September 8, 2016 at 10:00 AM - State Board of Education

Description:  The applicant data from this information is used to compile the Applicant Flow Chart forms for the Affirmative Action Report, which demonstrates the composition of applicants through the selecting, hiring,
promoting and terminating process.  The information is needed to measure the effectiveness of the agency's recruitment, hiring and promotion efforts and is in conformity with federal government guidelines, which require the agency to compile statistical information about applicants for employment.

Description:  Arkansas Code Annotated §6-17-309 requires local school districts to secure a waiver when classrooms are staffed with unlicensed teachers for longer than 30 days.  Requests were received from forty-four (44) school districts covering a total of eighty-eight (88) waivers.  There were also requests for long-term substitutes from twenty-seven (27) school districts requesting a total of forty-five (45) waivers for long-term substitutes. These requests have been reviewed, were either approved or denied by Department staff, and are consistent with program guidelines.

Description:  Violation of Standard 1.  An educator maintains a professional relationship with each student, both in and outside the classroom. The Professional Licensure Standards Board Ethics Subcommittee recommends that the State Board order a permanent license revocation.  Neither Mr. Fate, nor his attorney, responded within the required thirty (30) day period.

Description:  Violation of Standard 1. An educator maintains a professional relationship with each student, both in and outside the classroom. Violation of Standard 2. An educator maintains competence regarding his or her professional practice inclusive of skills, knowledge, dispositions, and responsibilities relating to his or her organizational position. Violation of Standard 7.  An educator maintains the confidentiality of information about students and colleagues obtained in the course of the educator’s professional services that is protected under state law or regulations, federal law or regulations, or the written policies of the educator’s school district, unless disclosure serves a professional purpose as allowed or required by law or regulations.  The Professional Licensure Standards Board Ethics Subcommittee recommends that the State Board issue a written warning. Mr. Elser, through his attorney, accepted the recommendation on July 28, 2016.

Description:  Ark. Code Ann. § 6-23-310 requires the authorizer to report on the status of open-enrollment public charter school programs to the General Assembly each biennium and to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education during the interim between regular sessions of the General Assembly.  Attached is the 2016  Charter Report.

Description:  Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-2505(b) requires the Arkansas Department of Education to prepare an annual report to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the State Board of Education describing the progress toward accomplishing the goals of the individual education renewal zones and the overall education renewal zone program.  Attached is the 2015-2016 report.

Description:  On January 14, 2016, the State Board approved the PCSSD Community Advisory Board membership.  On June 23, 2016, the member from Zone 1 resigned.  Nominations for the vacancy were accepted from area legislators.  Commissioner Key requests approval of a new Zone 1 member, Mr. Mike Kemp, effective immediately.

Description:  Ark. Code Ann. § 6-41-803(b)(1) requires that a private school meet the accreditation requirements set by an accrediting association recognized by the State Board for eligibility in the Succeed Scholarship Program.  The Department recommends that the State Board recognize the American Montessori Society and AdvancED as an accrediting association for purposes of Ark. Code Ann. 6-41-803(b)(1), private school eligibility for the Succeed Scholarship Program.

Description:  Ark. Code Ann. § 6-41-803(d) requires that a private school administer or make provisions for a participating student to take, a nationally recognized, norm-referenced test established by the State Board.

Description:  Monica Colbert is a licensed educator who received funding under the Rules Governing Eligibility and Financial Incentives for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Candidacy and Certification Program, but did not complete certification. Ms. Colbert has requested a waiver from her obligation to repay NBPTS Program funding in the amount of $1,375.00. Based on extenuating circumstances, the Department recommends that the State Board waive the requirement for repayment of NBPTS Program funding.

Description:  Cindy Hallmark is a licensed educator who received funding under the Rules Governing Eligibility and Financial Incentives for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Candidacy and Certification Program, but did not complete certification. Ms. Hallmark has requested a waiver from her obligation to repay NBPTS Program funding in the amount of $1,250.00. Based on extenuating circumstances, the Department recommends that the State Board waive the requirement for repayment of NBPTS Program funding.

Description:  Sita Montgomery is a licensed educator who received funding under the Rules Governing Eligibility and Financial Incentives for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Candidacy and Certification Program, but did not complete certification. Ms. Montgomery has requested a waiver from her obligation to repay NBPTS Program funding in the amount of $1,250.00. Based on extenuating circumstances, the Department recommends that the State Board waive the requirement for repayment of NBPTS Program funding.

Description:  Todd Musgraves is a licensed educator who received funding under the Rules Governing Eligibility and Financial Incentives for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Candidacy and Certification Program, but did not complete certification. Mr. Musgraves has requested a waiver from her obligation to repay NBPTS Program funding in the amount of $1,250.00. Based on extenuating circumstances, the Department recommends that the State Board waive the requirement for repayment of NBPTS Program funding.

Description:  Jodi Staten is a licensed educator who received funding under the Rules Governing Eligibility and Financial Incentives for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Candidacy and Certification Program, but did not complete certification. Ms. Staten has requested a waiver from her obligation to repay NBPTS Program funding in the amount of $1,250.00. Based on extenuating circumstances, the Department recommends that the State Board waive the requirement for repayment of NBPTS Program funding.

Description:  Trina Walls is a licensed educator who received funding under the Rules Governing Eligibility and Financial Incentives for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Candidacy and Certification Program, but did not complete certification. Ms. Walls has requested a waiver from her obligation to repay NBPTS Program funding in the amount of $2,500.00. Based on extenuating circumstances, the Department recommends that the State Board waive the requirement for repayment of NBPTS Program funding.

Description:  Casey Weisenbach is a licensed educator who received funding under the Rules Governing Eligibility and Financial Incentives for National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Candidacy and Certification Program, but did not complete certification. Ms. Weisenbach has requested a waiver from her obligation to repay NBPTS Program funding in the amount of $1,250.00. Based on extenuating circumstances, the Department recommends that the State Board waive the requirement for repayment of NBPTS Program funding.

Description:  Act 421 of 2013 allows curriculum frameworks from two (2) separate courses to be taught in a single course, known as a combined or embedded course.  Several school districts made application to the Curriculum and Instruction Unit for approval of a combined or embedded course and assured in writing that the curriculum frameworks for both courses will be fully taught in the combined or embedded course.  Arkansas Department of Education staff respectfully requests the State Board of Education approve the embedded courses, English 10 with Oral Communication, for West Fork School District and Alpena School District with the understanding that when the curriculum frameworks for one of the courses are revised, a new course approval request must be submitted to the State Board of Education and approval must be granted before a school would be allowed to offer the embedded courses.  

Description:  Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-1901 et seq. and the Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing the Public School Choice Act of 2015, the Sims family appeals the decision of the Fountain Lake School District to deny its child's school choice application for the 2016-2017 school year.  The family resides in the Cutter-Morning Star School District.

Description: 

Description:  Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Smackover-Norphlet School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers.

Description:  Act 1240 of 2015 allows a school district to petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to open-enrollment public charter schools that serve students who reside in the school district.  Representatives of the Pine Bluff School District are appearing before the Board with a petition for waivers.

Description:  Chair Mireya Reith will meet with State Board Members that have been appointed to Special Committees.   This work session will immediately follow the adjournment of the State Board Meeting.

Description:  NASBE will lead a conversation about deeper learning.  Forward Arkansas will discuss the progress in identifying Forward Communities.

The work session will be held in the ADE auditorium from 5:00-7:00 pm.  The meeting is open to the public but will not be live streamed or recorded.