January 14, 2021 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 for a total of 25 waivers. There were also requests for long-term substitutes from 36 school districts requesting a total of 77 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.  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 requests the State Board of Education order a permanent revocation of license or non-renewal by State Board of Education; assess a fine of $500. To be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator Shehorn.)
 

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 requests the State Board of Education order a permanent revocation of license or non-renewal by State Board of Education; assess a fine of $500. To be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator Smith.)
 

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 requests the State Board of Education order a 6 month probation ; assess a fine of $150; required to complete through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal ERC20059: Professional Licensure Standards Board Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators: Ethical Scenarios in Education (2020) Credit Hours: 1; Title: QBQ! The Question Behind the Question: Practicing Personal Accountability at Work and in Life (160p) Author: John G. Miller ISBN 10: 0399152334 ISBN 13: 978-0399152337; Written reflection by educator on how the trainings will impact his interactions in the school setting in the future. To be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator Harrell.)
 

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 requests the State Board of Education grant the Consent to Surrender and order a Permanent Revocation of License.

 

Description:  The Child Health Advisory Committee (CHAC) was created in 2003 by the Arkansas General Assembly through Act 1220 of 2003. The purpose of Act 1220 and CHAC were to establish a formal group of professionals who would focus on obesity prevention strategies with a specific emphasis on public school students through the implementation of the Coordinated School Health Program.

The committee meets monthly to review the most relevant trends including promising practices, policies, and resources as well as state and local activities.  Following this review, CHAC develops recommended best practices for education professionals, public health professionals, business leaders, policy makers, and community leaders across the State.
 

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. Dr.Nita Bohannon, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, has been nominated by the Arkansas Professors of Educational Leadership (ARPEA) to the position vacated by Dr. Ellen Treadway to represent their members. The term of this member is to begin immediately upon appointment and end on June 30, 2021.
 

Description:  Ms. Gant was employed as a teacher under an ACT 1240 waiver. Ms. Gant has appealed her ethics hearing recommendation and requested a State Board review pursuant to 16.02 of the Rules Governing the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators. Ms. Gant is represented by attorney Mr. James Valley.

Description:  In December the Charter Authorizing Panel voted to renew the district conversion charter license for Cave City High School Career and Collegiate Preparatory School for a period of five years.  The school serves students in grades 9-12 with an enrollment cap of 1,200.  The charter was initially awarded in November 2015.  

Description:  In December the Charter Authorizing Panel voted to renew the district conversion charter license for Fayetteville Virtual Academy for a period of five years.  The school serves students in grades K-12 with an enrollment cap of 5,000.  The charter was initially awarded in November 2015.   

Description:  In December the Charter Authorizing Panel voted to renew the district conversion charter license for Cross County High School for a period of five years.  The school serves students in grades 7-12 with an enrollment cap of 500.  The charter was initially awarded in January 2011.

Description:  In December the Charter Authorizing Panel voted to renew the district conversion charter license for the Don Tyson School of Innovation for a period of five years.  The school serves students in grades K-12 with an enrollment cap of 8,000.  The charter was initially awarded in November 2015.  
 

Description:  In December the Charter Authorizing Panel voted to renew the district conversion charter license for Hot Springs World Class High School for a period of five years.  The school serves students in grades 10-12 with an enrollment cap of 1,200.  The charter was initially awarded in November 2015.  
 

Description:  In December the Charter Authorizing Panel approved to renew the open-enrollment charter license for Future School of Fort Smith for a period of five years with a review in two years.  The school serves students in grades 10-12 with an enrollment cap of 450.  The charter was initially awarded in October 2015.

Description:  In December the Charter Authorizing Panel voted to renew the open-enrollment charter license for the Imboden Area Charter School for a period of five years with a review in two years.  The school serves students in grades K-8 with an enrollment cap of 150.  The charter was initially awarded in March 2002.

Description:  In December the Charter Authorizing Panel voted to renew the district conversion charter license for Arkansas Connections Academy for a period of five years.  The charter is 100% virtual and serves students in grades K-12 with an enrollment cap of 3,000.  The charter was initially awarded in November 2015.  
 

Description:  The Camden Fairview School District is requesting an extension of a 1240 waiver for teacher licensure granted in 2017.

Description:  The Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Initiative standards for high school courses are designed to provide understandings of concepts in computer science that are necessary for students to function in an ever-changing technological world. Through these standards, students will explore, apply, and move toward mastery in skills and concepts related to Computational Thinking and Problem Solving; Data, Information, and Security; Algorithms and Programs; Computers and Communications; and Professionalism and Impacts of Computing. These standards help students learn to accomplish tasks and solve problems independently and collaboratively. These standards give students the tools and skills needed to be successful in college and careers including computer science, computing, and other fields. 

State developed pathways within the Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Initiative all begin with common year-one standards which allow for consistency across the state and all schools. These common standards address the basic knowledge and skills needed for any student entering a technology-based field.  

Standards and courses under consideration for adoption include:

• High School Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

This course pathway is in addition to the eight pathways adopted during the December 2020 meeting.

The course standards have been grouped into one-credit (typically yearly) standards to afford the classroom educator additional flexibility in their curriculum choices; however, the course codes remain based on one-half credit (typically semester). Each state-developed pathway will have three credits (six pathway specific course codes) worth of Computer Science Flex Credit (465XXX) course codes.

Implementation of the Arkansas Computer Science Standards for High School Computer Science and Computing Courses begins during the 2021-2022 school year.

ADE is specifically requesting that the SBE adopt all portions of the documents except the teacher clarification notes. The teacher clarification notes follow the standard[s] to which they apply and are indicated by the word "NOTE."
 

Description:  The re-opening of schools for the 2020-21 school year amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic brought about challenges that schools have never before faced. This monumental task required first-time solutions, unimaginable in years past. A comprehensive digital learning program model was a novelty for most schools, rather than the standard for all.  In the few short months since school started in August, a variety of models for providing digital learning programs have evolved, and the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has recognized the complexities and insistent needs to providing digital learning options in schools. Thinking forward about the context by which schools will offer digital programming and the challenges around infrastructure, connectivity, and instructional platforms, DESE has established a standard application and approval process for district digital learning programs for the 2021-2022 school year.

A Guidebook for Digital Learning has been developed to Build common knowledge and language ; Provide high-quality training opportunities ; and Provide guidance and resources to support districts with implementing digital
learning programs.

The Guidebook for digital learning will support providing digital learning OPTIONS with strategic programming and clear identification of the necessary criteria for success.  Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, districts may apply for approval to offer a digital learning program under their current LEA.  Districts that are ready to offer a digital learning program should apply to operate a remote (virtual) or hybrid (blended) program option. Waivers applicable to the digital learning program option will be identified in the application document. Waivers have been tailored to different options and are based on selected options for Interactions, Delivery, and Platforms.  

The DESE requests that the State Board approve the streamlined application and waiver approval process for Digital Learning options as part of a district's current LEA for the 2021-2022 school year.