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OCSS

Office of Coordinated Support & Service

The goal of the Office of Coordinated Support and Service (OCSS) is to provide assistance to any school district for which the Arkansas Department of Education has assumed administrative authority under the laws of the State of Arkansas, one that has been classified by the State Board of Education as a school or school district in Academic, Fiscal, or Facilities Distress, or a district identified for level 4 or 5 support as noted in Act 930 of 2017. The OCSS will coordinate support and service to the identified districts as directed by the Commissioner of Education. OCSS will provide reports to the Department of Education and the State Board of Education.
The OCSS Team is committed to advancing the overarching mission, vision, and goals of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. The dedicated support spans from fostering state initiatives through professional development and collaborative conversations to offering intensive and, when necessary, direct aid to districts designated as requiring Level 4 or Level 5 support. The team's methodology revolves around bolstering the capacity of district and school leaders, striving for sustainable growth through candid dialogue, coaching, support (without supplanting), and offering technical guidance to ensure effective and efficient operations within the six systems (Academics, Student Support, Human Capital, District Governance and Operations, F.A.C.E., and Transportation and Facilities). The approach embodies a 'whatever it takes' attitude, ensuring unwavering support that promotes a safe, supportive and collaborative learning environment; high quality instruction; a guaranteed and viable curriculum and compliance with all local, state and federal rules and regulations.

Logo of the Arkansas Department of Education featuring a map of Arkansas with 'AR' inside.

  • A man in a light blue shirt and dark pants speaks into a microphone in front of an audience.
  • A man in a light blue suit stands in front of a projector screen displaying a diagram about distributed leadership.
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    • Blytheville
    • Earle School District
    • Helena-West Helena School District
    • Lee County School District
    • Marvell-Elaine School District
    • Watson Chapel
    • Arkansas School for the Deaf
    • Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

A group of seven professionals pose for a photo, with text above reading 'Office of Coordinated Support and Service'.

Five women smile for a photo, with text indicating a collaboration between Easter Seals Outreach and Office of Coordinated Support and Service with Helena West Helena in February 2023.

Three smiling individuals, Julie Amstutz, Brent Miller, and Sheila Whitlow, pose for a photo.

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  • A diverse group of people are seated in chairs, attending an event or conference.
  • Five people, three women and two men, stand together in a room against a light-colored wall.
  • Two smiling women pose for a selfie outdoors, with other people visible in the background.