How Red Garrison Helps Arkansas Schools Navigate Act 504 Compliance
Arkansas school districts are facing a new reality: Act 504 isn't optional, and time is running out.
If you're a superintendent, IT director, or school administrator in Arkansas, you already know the pressure. Between managing day-to-day operations, keeping students safe, and stretching budgets that never seem to go far enough, now you're also responsible for cybersecurity policies that meet state standards.
And if you don't have them in place? You're not just out of compliance — you're exposed.
Here's the thing: Red Garrison gets it. We work with Arkansas schools every day, and we know exactly what you're up against.
What Act 504 Actually Requires (In Plain English)
Act 504 sounds bureaucratic, but the requirements are straightforward. Every Arkansas school district and open-enrollment charter school must:
Create a Technology Resources Policy that defines how staff can (and can't) use school technology — from email accounts to district devices.
Develop a Cyber Security Policy that aligns with the standards set by the Arkansas State Cyber Security Office.
Build an Employee Training Program that covers both policies and ensures staff understand the rules.
Establish Disciplinary Procedures for violations — because policies without consequences don't work.
Submit policies for approval to the State Cyber Security Office by October 1 of each even-numbered year.
That's not a small checklist. And for many districts, it's entirely new territory.
The Real Challenge: You Don't Have Time For This
Let's be honest — most school IT departments are already stretched thin.
You're managing devices for hundreds (or thousands) of students. You're keeping networks running. You're fielding support tickets from teachers who can't remember their passwords. You're responding to ransomware scares and phishing attempts that seem to come in daily.
Now add to that: writing comprehensive cybersecurity policies, coordinating with state offices, developing training materials, and staying current with evolving threats.
It's not realistic. And that's where Red Garrison comes in.
How We Help Arkansas Schools Stay Compliant (And Protected)
At Red Garrison, we've built our entire approach around one simple idea: schools shouldn't have to become cybersecurity experts to be secure.
Here's how we help:
1. Policy Development That Actually Makes Sense
We don't hand you a 50-page template and wish you luck.
Instead, we work with you to develop Technology Resources Policies and Cyber Security Policies that:
Meet Act 504 requirements to the letter
Align with State Cyber Security Office standards
Reflect your district's actual technology environment
Use language your staff will actually understand
We've worked with enough Arkansas districts to know what works — and what doesn't. Our policies aren't generic. They're built for your school.
2. Training That Sticks
Compliance isn't just about having policies on paper. Your staff has to understand them.
We develop customized training programs that cover:
Authorized use of technology resources
Recognizing phishing and social engineering attacks
Password hygiene and multi-factor authentication
Reporting suspicious activity
Understanding consequences for policy violations
Our training doesn't feel like a boring PowerPoint. We make it practical, relevant, and designed for the people who will actually use it — teachers, office staff, and administrators.
3. Year-Round Support Through Adaptive Penetration Testing (APT)
Here's where Red Garrison is different from every other compliance consultant out there.
We don't just help you check boxes and disappear. Through our Adaptive Penetration Testing (APT) program, we stay engaged with your district all year long.
Here's what that looks like:
Continuous threat monitoring — we don't wait for an annual audit to tell you what's broken.
Real-world vulnerability testing — we think like attackers, so you can fix problems before they become breaches.
Ongoing policy validation — as threats evolve, we help you adjust your defenses.
Documentation you can show the state — because when the State Cyber Security Office asks for proof, you'll have it.
Most districts think penetration testing is a one-and-done checkbox. It's not. Cyber threats don't take summers off. Neither do we.
4. Incident Response Planning
Act 504 requires disciplinary procedures for policy violations — but what about when an actual cyberattack happens?
We help schools develop Incident Response Plans that cover:
Who does what when an attack occurs
How to contain the threat quickly
How to communicate with parents, staff, and the state
How to recover without losing weeks of instructional time
The districts that have a plan in place recover faster, lose less data, and avoid panic. The ones that don't? They scramble — and it costs them.
Why Schools Choose Red Garrison
We're not a faceless consulting firm. We're an Arkansas company, and we work exclusively with Arkansas organizations. That means:
✅ We know the laws. We've read every word of Act 504, Act 510, and Act 846. We know what the state expects — and what they'll actually look at.
✅ We know your environment. We've worked with rural districts with three IT staff members and larger systems with dedicated security teams. We meet you where you are.
✅ We're local. When you call, you get a person — not a ticket number. When you need help, we show up. Sometimes literally.
✅ We care about education. We don't see schools as just another client. We see them as critical infrastructure. Protecting student data and keeping systems running isn't just our job — it matters.
The Cost of Waiting
Here's what happens if you don't get Act 504 right:
You fail your compliance review. The State Cyber Security Office isn't flexible on deadlines.
You're exposed to cyberattacks. Ransomware, phishing, and data breaches don't wait for you to catch up.
You risk losing funding. Non-compliance can have consequences that ripple through your budget.
You become a liability. Parents, the community, and your board expect you to protect student data. If you can't, trust erodes fast.
We've seen districts scramble at the last minute. It's stressful, expensive, and entirely avoidable.
Let's Get You Compliant — The Right Way
If you're reading this and thinking, "We're not ready," you're not alone.
Most Arkansas schools weren't ready either. But the ones that partnered with Red Garrison early are now in a completely different position. Their policies are approved. Their staff is trained. Their systems are tested. And when the next cyber threat shows up, they're ready.
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Red Garrison has helped dozens of Arkansas school districts navigate Act 504, strengthen their defenses, and build long-term cybersecurity strategies that actually work.
Ready to get started?
Contact Red Garrison today. We'll walk you through exactly what you need, what it costs, and how fast we can get you compliant.
Because protecting Arkansas schools isn't just what we do.
It's why we're here.