March 12, 2020 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 20 school districts covering a total of  23  waivers. There were also requests for long-term substitutes from 49 school districts, educational service cooperatives, and behavioral facilities requesting a total of 102 waivers for long-term substitutes. These requests have been reviewed, were either approved or denied by Division 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. Violation of Standard 2.  An educator maintains competence regarding his or her professional practice, inclusive of professional and ethical behavior, skills, knowledge, dispositions, and responsibilities relating to his or her organizational position. The Professional Licensure Standards Board Ethics Subcommittee recommends that the State Board order One-Year Probation; assess a $200.00 fine to be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order; required to complete through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal ERC19048: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): The Code of Ethics Training Video (2018);TCC14435: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): Social Media Guidelines; TCC14436: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): Digital Citizenship Curricula K-12; Title: Addressing Appropriate and Inappropriate Teacher-Student Relationships: A Secondary Education Professional Development Model; Author: Ernest J. Zarra, III, Kern High School District; Publication: CLEARvoz Journal Vol. 3, No. 2 (2016); Link: http://journals.sfu.ca/cvj/index.php/cvj/article/viewFile/26/29 Educator will provide a written reflection indicating how each training will impact the Educator’s interactions inside the classroom and on the playing field.  To be completed within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator Gittings). (Accepted 1/30/2020).

Description:  Violation of Standard 2. An educator maintains competence regarding his or her professional practice, inclusive of professional and ethical behavior, skills, knowledge, dispositions, and responsibilities relating to his or her organizational position. The Professional Licensure Standards Board Ethics Subcommittee recommends that the State Board order a Written Reprimand; assess a $100.00 fine to be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order; required to complete through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal ERC19048: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): The Code of Ethics Training Video (2018); TCC14435: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): Social Media Guidelines; Educator will provide a written reflection indicating how each training will impact her interactions with students and colleagues. To be completed within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator McGrew). (Accepted 2/5/2020).

Description:  Violation of Standard 2. An educator maintains competence regarding his or her professional practice, inclusive of professional and ethical behavior, skills, knowledge, dispositions, and responsibilities relating to his or her organizational position. Violation of Standard 8. An educator, while on school premises or at school sponsored activities involving students, refrains from: (a) using, possessing, and/or being under the influence of alcohol or unauthorized drugs/substances, possessing items prohibited by law; (b) possessing or using tobacco or tobacco-related products, e-cigarettes, e-liquid, or vapor products; or (c) abusing/misusing prescription medications or other authorized substances as evidenced by impairment. The Professional Licensure Standards Board Ethics Subcommittee recommends that the State Board order a One-Year Suspension; assess a $300.00 fine to be paid within thirty (30) days of the end of the suspension; required to complete through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal ERC ERC19048: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): The Code of Ethics Training Video (2018); Mastering the Addicted Brain: Building a Sane and Meaningful Life to Stay Clean (160 p.); Author: Walter Ling, MD; ISBN 10: 1608685004; ISBN13:978-1608685004; The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success – No Nonsense, No Excuses (256 p.); Author: Linda Galindo; IBSN 13: 9780470500163; Educator will provide a written reflection indicating how each training will impact the Educator’s return to the classroom. A letter from a licensed counselor specializing in alcoholic treatment stating the Educator is fit to return to the classroom. To be completed within thirty (30) days of the end of the suspension. (All costs paid by Educator Rook).

Description:  Violation of Standard 2.  An educator maintains competence regarding his or her professional practice, inclusive of professional and ethical behavior, skills, knowledge, dispositions, and responsibilities relating to his or her organizational position. Violation of Standard 3. An educator honestly fulfills reporting obligations associated with professional practices. The Professional Licensure Standards Board Ethics Subcommittee recommends that the State Board order a Written Reprimand; assess a $100.00 fine to be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order; required to complete through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal ERC19048: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): The Code of Ethics Training Video (2018); Common Sense Classroom Management for Special Education Teachers Grades K-5; Pages: 144; ISBN-10: 1412915082; ISBN-13: 978-1412915083; Educator will provide a written reflection indicating how each training will impact the Educator’s professional practices;  To be completed within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator Moody).

Description:  Violation of Standard 2.  An educator maintains competence regarding his or her professional practice, inclusive of professional and ethical behavior, skills, knowledge, dispositions, and responsibilities relating to his or her organizational position. Violation of Standard 3. An educator honestly fulfills reporting obligations associated with professional practices. The Professional Licensure Standards Board Ethics Subcommittee recommends that the State Board order  Six-Month Probation; assess a $150.00 fine to be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order; required to complete through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal ERC19048: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): The Code of Ethics Training Video (2018);  SPC17008: Foundations in Special Education: Major Components of IDEA; SPC17009: Foundations in Special Education: Legal and Ethical Issues; Educator will provide a written reflection indicating how each training will impact her as a special education professional. To be completed within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator Stracener). (Accepted 1/21/2020).

Description:  Approval is requested for the 2020 Open-Enrollment Charter School Application.  The only revisions made were to the layout of the application.  All prompts remain the same as the 2019 application.  The Charter Authorizing Panel approved the revision on February 18, 2020.

Description:  Approval is requested for the 2020 District Conversion Charter School Application.  The only revisions made were to the layout of the application.  All prompts remain the same as the 2019 application.  The Charter Authorizing Panel approved the revision on February 18, 2020.

Description:  Under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-422 members of the PLSB serve rotating terms, and are appointed by the State Board from nominations made by professional education associations. Mr. Hosea Born has been nominated by the Arkansas Education Association to complete the term vacated by Lillian Hemphill on the Professional Licensure Standards Board. Mr. Born is a 7th grade Math teacher at Yerger Middle School in the Hope School District. The term of this member is to begin immediately upon appointment and end on June 30, 2020.

Description:  Kyle KempfKyle Kempf's standard teaching license expired on December 31, 2019, and has an outstanding fine of $200.00, as ordered by the State Board of Education.  Mr. Kempf has not responded to collection attempts.  DESE staff respectfully request the suspension of Mr. Kempf’s license until the fine is paid.

Description:  The Harmony Grove School District (Ouachita County) seeks to close its Sparkman K-12 campus at the end of the 2019-2020 school year.  Because the Harmony Grove Board of Directors' vote to close the campus was not unanimous (5 voted to close, 2 voted against closure), Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-602 requires a majority vote of the State Board of Education to close the K-12 campus.   

Description:  According to Arkansas Code Annotated 6-15-103, a school district can petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waiver granted to an Open-Enrollment Public Charter School. Representatives of the Western Yell County School District are appearing before the Board with a petition of waivers.

Description:  On February 18, 2020, representatives of Hot Springs Junior Academy appeared before the Charter Authorizing Panel requesting an amendment to their charter.  By a unanimous vote, the Panel approved the request.  No request for the State Board of Education to review the Panel decision has been submitted.  The State Board may exercise a right of review and conduct a hearing on the Charter Authorizing Panel's decision at the next State Board meeting.

Description:  On February 18, 2020, representatives of Hot Springs World Class High School appeared before the Charter Authorizing Panel requesting an amendment to their charter.  By a unanimous vote, the Panel approved the request.  No request for the State Board of Education to review the Panel decision has been submitted.  The State Board may exercise a right of review and conduct a hearing on the Charter Authorizing Panel's decision at the next State Board meeting.

Description:  Izard County Consolidated School District is requesting a One-Year Standards for Accreditation Waiver from kindergarten class size for the 2019-2020 school year.

Description:  Flippin School District is requesting a One-Year Standards for Accreditation Waiver from the 178 days of student-teacher interaction time.

Description:  On January 24, 2020, the State Board voted to allow Southeast Arkansas Preparatory High School to remain open until the end of the school year and to return to the State Board in March.

Description:  Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-112 & 6-15-2917, a quarterly status report is provided for each school district currently under state authority. 

Description:  Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-112 & 6-15-2917, a quarterly status report is provided for each school district currently under state authority. 

Description:  Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-112 & 6-15-2917, a quarterly status report is provided for each school district currently under state authority. 

Description:  Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-112 & 6-15-2917, a quarterly status report is provided for each school district currently under state authority. 

Description:  Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-112 & 6-15-2917, a quarterly status report is provided for each school district currently under state authority.