Dequeen Mena Educational Cooperative

Dequeen Mena Educational Cooperative is a U.S. state government educational institution located in Gillham, Arkansas, registered in SAM.gov since 2005. As an educational service cooperative, the organization serves multiple school districts in western Arkansas, providing critical educational support and administrative services across multiple counties. The cooperative primarily functions as a prime federal grant recipient and pass-through entity, focusing on delivering supplemental educational programs and support services to diverse educational settings.

Through its federal grant awards, Dequeen Mena Educational Cooperative has implemented several significant educational initiatives across multiple federal programs. The organization's most prominent grant is the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program, which engages senior volunteers aged 55 and older in tutoring and mentoring children with special needs. Additionally, the cooperative has received sub-awards from the Arkansas Department of Career Education for Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education programs, and from the Arkansas Department of Education for migrant children's educational services. The cooperative has also been involved in COVID-19 response efforts, technology infrastructure development for educational service centers, and special education digital learning initiatives. Its grant portfolio demonstrates a comprehensive approach to supporting educational development, with funding sources primarily including the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Department of Education Arkansas, and the Arkansas Department of Career Education. The organization's work spans multiple critical areas including career education, special needs support, migrant student services, and technology infrastructure for educational institutions.