February 8, 2024 at 9:00 AM - State Board of Education

Description:  Mallory Stuckey, a sophomore at Rison High School, has been named Miss Natural State's Teen. For the past three years, Mallory has been working on her Community Service Initiative, Love the Skin You're In: Melanoma Prevention & Awareness. Her goal is to educate Arkansans, specifically Arkansas students, on sun safety and skin cancer prevention. In June 2024, Ms Stuckey will compete for the title of Miss Arkansas' Teen.

Description:  Alpena Public School District is requesting a one-year Standards for Accreditation waiver of 1-A.5 Class Size for one 6^th grade class that is four (4) students over the maximum number of students.
 

Description:  This rule was approved for public comment in October. No substantive changes were made to the rule, and it is presented for final approval.

Description:  This rule was approved for public comment in November. No substantive changes were made to the rule, and it is presented for final approval.

Description:  Ark. Code Ann. § 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 17 school districts for a total of 21 waivers. There were also requests for long-term substitutes from 27 school districts requesting a total of 96 waivers for long-term substitutes. These requests have been reviewed, were either approved or denied by DESE 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 and assess a $500 fine.
 

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 Probation of License for 2 years and assess a $250 fine. Require Educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics Training Provided by the PLSB (1.5 Hours), SPC17008 Foundations in Special Education: Major Components of IDEA (1 Credit Hour), SPC17009 Foundations in Special Education: Legal and Ethical Issues (1 Credit Hour), SPC17010 Foundations in Special Education: Roles and Responsibilities (1 Credit Hour), and Title: The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success -- No Nonsense, No Excuses (256p) Author: Linda Galindo ISBN 10:ISBN 13: 9780470500163. Require educator to provide written reflection regarding how each training will impact the educator’s professional practices. Due to the PLSB for approval within 90 days of the State Board Order. Quarterly reports from supervisor that the educator is meeting all IDEA timelines. Submitted to the PLSB quarterly for approval. (All costs paid by Educator Stephenson).
 

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 Suspension of License for 1 year followed by a Probation of License for 2 years and assess a $500 fine. Require Educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics Training Provided by the PLSB (1.5 Hours),
SPC17008 Foundations in Special Education: Major Components of IDEA (1 Credit Hour), SPC17009 Foundations in Special Education: Legal and Ethical Issues (1 Credit Hour), SPC17010 Foundations in Special Education: Roles and Responsibilities (1 Credit Hour), and Title: The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success -- No Nonsense, No Excuses (256p) Author: Linda Galindo ISBN 10:ISBN 13: 9780470500163. Require educator to provide written reflection regarding how each training will impact the educator’s professional practices. Due to the PLSB for approval within 30 days prior to the end of their suspension for suspension removal. After completion of suspension, quarterly report from supervisor that the educator is meeting all IDEA timelines. Submitted to the PLSB quarterly for approval. (All costs paid by Educator Channing).
 

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 Probation of License for 1 year and assess a $150 fine. Require Educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics Training Provided by the PLSB (1.5 Hours), LAG17029 Success Favors Well-Prepared Adults: Unpacking your Personality Package (1 Credit Hour), and Title: You’ve Gotta Connect: Building Relationships that Lead to Engaged Students, Productive Classrooms, and Higher Achievement (280 Pages) Author: James Alan Sturtevant ISBN-10: 1629500046 ISBN-13: 978-1629500046. Require educator to provide written reflection on each training/book on how it will impact the educator’s future interactions with students. Due to the PLSB for approval within 90 days of the State Board Order. Require educator to attend Anger Management class (as evidenced by completion certificate). (All costs paid by Educator Rheinhardt).
 

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, and/or possessing items prohibited by law, or 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 requests the State Board of Education order a Suspension of License for 6 months followed by a Probation of License for 1 year and assess a $300 fine. Require Educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics Training Provided by the PLSB (1.5 Hours) and ERC23007: Code of Ethics Part Four: Professional Responsibilities (1 Credit Hour). Require educator to provide written reflection on each training/book on how they will impact the educator’s future interactions with students due to the PLSB for approval 30 days prior to the end of suspension for suspension removal. (All costs paid by Educator Miller).
 

Description:  Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann.  § 25-16-904, which allows the State Board of Education to annually authorize "a stipend not to exceed eighty-five dollars ($85.00) per day for each meeting, examination, evaluation, or inspection attended or for any day while performing any proper business of the board....", this item is on the agenda for the board to approve the maximum daily stipend for 2024.

Description:  Ms. Whitlow will introduce Dr. Michael Stone, Superintendent of Lee County School District, to provide the State Board with updates on progress made in the district.

Description:  The State Board requested monthly updates from the Watson Chapel School District on progress made towards correcting Standards for Accreditation violations and other concerns noted by DESE.

Description:  Alpena Public School District is requesting a one-year Standards for Accreditation waiver of 1-A.5 Class Size for one 6^th grade class that is four (4) students over the maximum number of students.