April 9, 2020 at 10:00 AM - State Board of Education

Description:  The members of the Arkansas State Board of Education are requested to review the following: 
Commercial Bond Applications – 2 Second Lien and 2 Voted
With the recommendation to approve all applications from the Loan Committee and additional information provided by the school district in its application package and:

• Pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated § 6-20-1205
  concerning school district bonds, a school district shall not sell bonds until
  the issue is approved by the State Board of Education.  Therefore, the
  State Board of Education, in its discretion and after considering the merits of
  each application with the loan committee recommendation, may approve a school
  district bond application for the full amount of the proposed bond issue,
  approve the application for a lesser amount than requested, or disapprove the
  application.

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 11  school districts covering a total of  16  waivers. There were also requests for long-term substitutes from 53 school districts, educational service cooperatives, and behavioral facilities requesting a total of 90 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 a One-Year Probation; required to complete through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal ERC19048: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): The Code of Ethics Training Video (2018); SPC 17013: Introduction to Behavior: Behavior Intervention Plan;  SPC 17011: Introduction to Behavior: Supporting Effective Behavior; Children’s Challenging Behaviors; (Online) https://www.carecourses.com/Ecommerce/CourseDetail.aspx?ItemID=326; Educator will provide a written reflection indicating how each training will impact educator’s professional practices. To be completed within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator Camper).

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 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); SPC17011 Introduction to Behavior: Supporting Effective Behavior; The Classroom Management Book (320 p.) Author: Kary K. Wong, Rosemary T. Wong, Sarah F. Jondahl, Oretha F. Ferguson; ISBN-13: 978-0976423393; ISBN-10:0976423391; Educator will provide a written reflection indicating how each training will affect her interactions with students. To be completed within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator Pruette). (Accepted 2/10/2020)

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 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 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); The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success No Nonsense, No Excuses (256 p.); Author: Linda Galindo; ISBN 13: 9780470500163; HWB17118 Act 1236 of 2011: Child Maltreatment (2017); Educator will provide a written reflection indicating how imperative it is to report child maltreatment as an Educator. To be completed within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator Smith).

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 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);Children’s Challenging Behaviors; (Online) https://www.carecourses.com/Ecommerce/CourseDetail.aspx?ItemID=326; Educator will provide a written reflection how trainings will impact her interactions with students.  To be completed within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator Wortham). (Accepted 2/06/2020)

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. 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 Two-Year Suspension; assess a $500.00 fine to be completed within 30 days prior to the end of the suspension period; required to complete through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal ERC19048: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): The Code of Ethics Training Video (2018); The Addictive Personality: Understanding the Addictive Process and Compulsive Behavior (144 p.); Author: Craig Nakken; ISBN 10: 1568381298; ISBN 13: 978-1568381299; Continue AA, out-patient treatment, family counseling, and after-care; The Educator is to submit a letter from a licensed mental health provider indicating that they are fit to return to the classroom. Educator will provide a written reflection indicating on how this reading will affect her professional life. To be completed within 30 days prior to the end of the suspension period. (All costs paid by Educator Dwyer).

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. 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); What Great Teachers Do Differently: 17 Things that Matter Most 2nd Edition; Author: Todd Whitaker; ISBN 10: 9781596671997; ISBN 13: 978-1596671997; Educator will provide a written reflection indicating how these trainings will impact the educator’s interactions with students in the future. To be completed within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator Zen-Ruffinen).

Description:  The ADE Rules Governing the Succeed Scholarship Program require the parent of a student receiving a Succeed Scholarship who wishes to enroll the student in another private school from the list of eligible private schools, to request approval from the State Board of Education. The Harpole family requests approval to transfer their scholarship from Christ (Lutheran) Little Rock to Holy Souls.

Description:  The Earle School District is requesting a one-year Standards for Accreditation waiver for kindergarten class size.  They have two kindergarten classrooms with a half-time paraprofessional in each one.  Currently they have 45 students enrolled in kindergarten, which is one student over the class size limit.

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.  In March an amendment request was presented, and partially approved, to transfer the charter to Friendship Academy, increase the enrollment count and add grade levels. Additional information will be presented on the portion of the amendment request that was tabled.

Description:  These Rules have been amended to incorporate the changes of Act 429 and 30 of 2019.  A public comment hearing was held on October 28, 2019.  Public comments were received, but resulted in no substantive changes to the Rules. DESE staff respectfully request the State Board grant final approval of these Rules. 

Description:  These Rules were amended to incorporate changes required by Acts 557, 640, 709, and 1029 of 2019. A public comment hearing was held on February 12, 2020. Public comments were received during the public comment period. Revisions were made to the rules, but no substantive changes made. DESE staff respectfully requests that the State Board grant final approval of these Rules. 

Description:  These Rules were amended to incorporate changes required by Act 557 of 2019. A public comment hearing was held on February 12, 2020. No public comments were received. DESE staff respectfully requests that the State Board grant final approval of these Rules. 

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:  The State Board Nominating Committee will announce recommendations for Chair and Vice Chair as well as accept any additional recommendations.