March 26 is being celebrated as the second annual International Social-Emotional Learning Day, and in honor of this day, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is requesting that the Arkansas State Board of Education proclaim the third week of March as G.U.I.D.E. for Life Week.
 
 
DESE is encouraging schools to celebrate the G.U.I.D.E. for Life with daily activities, and to help schools support the personal competency standards in the G.U.I.D.E. for Life, DESE has developed a number of sample activities and resources that will be posted on the G.U.I.D.E. for Life webpage.

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has identified five guiding principles that support educators, business leaders, communities, and students in their efforts to help all Arkansans develop these critical skills.  The principles represent skills needed to thrive at home, school, on the job, and in the community:  Growth (manage yourself), Understanding (know yourself), Interaction (build relationships), Decisions (make responsible choices), Empathy (be aware of others) - [G.U.I.D.E.] for Life.

In honor of the second annual International Social-Emotional Learning Day, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education is encouraging schools to celebrate the G.U.I.D.E. for Life during the week of March 15-19.

The U.S. Secretary of Education recognized 367 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools in 2020.  The identification is based on student scores, student subgroup scores and graduation rates.  Two Arkansas schools were recognized as Exemplary High Performing Schools and two were recognized as Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools.  

The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators has been selecting examples of superior, federally funded school programs for national recognition through the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Programs since 1996.  In 2020, one Arkansas school was recognized for their success in exceptional student performance and academic growth for two or more consecutive years.  A second school was recognized for their success in closing the achievement gap between student groups for two or more consecutive years.  

The Terrel H. Bell Award recognizes outstanding school leaders and the vital role they play in guiding students and schools to excellence, frequently under challenging circumstances.  Principals are nominated by their school communities during the final stages of the National Blue Ribbon Schools application process. The U.S. Department of Education, together with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Association for Middle Level Education, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, bestow the Bell Award on a handful of principals each year.  In 2020, ten principals across the nation were recognized.  

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. 

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 for a total of 18  waivers. There were also requests for long-term substitutes from 31 school districts requesting a total of 85 waivers for long-term substitutes. These requests have been reviewed, were either approved or denied by Department staff, and are consistent with program guidelines. 
 

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 1 year probation ; required to complete through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal ERC18064: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): The Code of Ethics Training Video (2017); Title: Taking Charge of Anger, Second Edition: Six Steps to Asserting Yourself without Losing Control (289p) Author: W. Robert Nay, PhD. ISBN 10: 1462502423 ISBN 13: 978-1462502424; Title: The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence (208p) Author: Dacher Keltner ISBN 10: 0143110292 ISBN 13: 978-0143110293; ERC15037 Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Training for Arkansas Reporters Credit Hours: 1.5; Written reflections on how the trainings will help her learn to deescalate student behavioral issues and maintain control in her interactions with students. Reflections and certificates should be returned to PLSB for review prior to completion of probation (All costs paid by Educator Hall).
 

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 2 year suspension ; assess a fine of $500; required to complete through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal ERC19048: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): The Code of Ethics Training Video (2018) Credit Hours: 1; SPB14011 Creating the Perfect Behavior Plan Credit Hours: 1;  Title: The Complete Learning Disabilities Handbook: Ready-to-Use Strategies and Activities for Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities. Third Edition Author: Joan M. Harwell, Rebecca Williams Jackson ASIN: B00E6TH5ZY; Title: Common-Sense Classroom Management for Special Education Teachers, Grades K-5 (144 pages) Author: Jill A. Lindberg ISBN-10: 1412915082 ISBN-13: 978-1412915083; Written reflections by educator to explain appropriate techniques she will utilize in her classroom going forward and how she will acknowledge techniques that will be traumatizing to a student. To be completed by: Due 30 days before the end of suspension (All costs paid by Educator Geoffrion).
 

 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 4. An educator entrusted with public funds and property, including school sponsored activity funds, honors that trust with honest, responsible stewardship.  The Professional Licensure Standards Board requests the State Board of Education order a 1 year suspension ; assess a fine of $500; 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; Quarterly reports from therapist and sponsor regarding educator’s treatment and progress;  Letter from a licensed professional stating Educator’s capacity to return to a school setting; Written reflections to be provided quarterly by the educator regarding his treatment and progress. Written reflection also on the code of ethics training to explain how he will utilize the training in the future.  To be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order. (All costs paid by Educator Graham.)
 

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.
 

In February the Charter Authorizing Panel approved an amendment request for LISA Academy to add a new campus, waivers for the new campus and to increase the enrollment cap. LISA's charter was originally approved in 2004 and serves students in grades K-12.  The enrollment cap for 2020-2021 is 3,432.  

The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Office of Computer Science requests that the State Board of Education provide approval for any Arkansas Public School District to provide instruction and high school credit to 8th graders for the following Arkansas Computer Science and Computing courses:

• Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning - Year 1 (465410)
• Computer Engineering - Year 1 (465470)
• Cyber Security - Year 1 (465270)
• Data Science - Year 1 (465710)
• Game Development and Design - Year 1 (465670)
• Mobile Application Development - Year 1 (465370)
• Networking - Year 1 (465170)
• Programming - Year 1 (465070)
• Robotics - Year 1 (465570)

The approved grades in which each of these courses may be taught for high school credit will be grades 8-12 instead of grades 9-12. Licensure requirements will remain the same, regardless of the grades in which the courses are offered.

This approval shall remain in effect until June 30, 2025, which is when the current standards are set to expire.