Act 44 of 2003 established the Arkansas Leadership Academy’s Master Principal Program to provide training programs and opportunities to expand the knowledge base and leadership skills of public school principals. Those successfully completing the 3-year program are required to publicly demonstrate, through a rigorous assessment process, the ability and skills that lead to sustained academic improvement in a school and a school district. The 2022 Designated Master Principal will be announced.
 

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. 

The members of the Arkansas State Board of Education are requested to review the following:
Commercial Bond Applications - 4 Second Liens and 3 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.

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 12 school districts for a total of 24 waivers. There were also requests for long-term substitutes from 36 school districts requesting a total of 61 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 one year probation and assess a $200 fine. (All costs paid by Educator Means); Code of Ethics training as provided to Arkansas Activities Association by the PLSB staff. Title: I Notice: A Step-by-Step Guide to Transform Student Potential Through Building Intentional Relationships Author: Claire E. Hallinan ISBN-10: 1733035613 ISBN-13: 978-1733035613. Title: The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success -- No Nonsense, No Excuses (256p) Author: Linda Galindo ISBN 13: 9780470500163. LAB15051 Closing the Attitude Gap: http://ideaslms.aetn.org/course/view.php?id=882. Require Educator to prepare written reflection on each individual training to show how he will utilize the trainings in his professional practices and interactions with students.
 

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 Written Reprimand to the Educator and assess a $100 fine. (All costs paid by Educator Feil); Recommend training, coursework or rehab treatment, with monitored progress: ERC20059: Professional Licensure Standards Board Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators: Ethical Scenarios in Education (2020). 
 

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 2 years and assess a $250 fine. (All cost paid by Educator Little), Title: The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success -- No Nonsense, No Excuses (256p) Author: Linda Galindo ISBN 10:ISBN 13: 9780470500163. Capturing Minds by Capturing Hearts: 40 Ways in 40 Days to be a Better Teacher (174p) Author: Kay J. Mahne ISBN 10: 1483667251 ISBN 13: 978-1483667256. ERC20059: Professional Licensure Standards Board Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators: Ethical Scenarios in Education (2020) Credit Hours: 1., 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 prepare written reflection on each individual training to show how he will utilize the trainings in his professional practices and interactions with students.
 

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 educator’s license and assess a fine of $500.
 

This document details the differences in the Standards for Accreditation and Act 1240 waivers and ties in considerations for licensure exceptions. 

Fordyce School District is requesting a one-year (1) 2021-2022 waiver of Standard for Accreditation 2-G.1 which requires "Each public school district shall provide gifted and talented services in accordance with the laws of the state of Arkansas and the rules of the Division." (D/C)

The GT teacher resigned effective 12/31/2021. Students have been reassigned to other classes for the second semester only. A certified replacement has been hired for the 2022-2023 school year. 

Farmington School District is requesting a waiver of 1-A.4.1 "Each public school shall provide a minimum of 178 days of student-teacher interaction time.(S/P)" for Randall G. Lynch Middle School and Farmington Junior High School. The reason for this waiver request is both campuses have used two AMI days over their allotted ten days due to unexpected modifications related to COVID and inclement weather.

Documentation has been provided to demonstrate how two schools are addressing learning loss. 
 

Foreman School District is seeking a waiver of Standards for Accreditation 1-A.5 Class Size. The district is over the maximum allowable limit by one (1) student. The class has an aide and a new hire will occur for the 2022/2023 school year. 

Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-103 (Act 1240 of 2015), a traditional public school district may petition the State Board for waivers granted to an open-enrollment public charter school.  
 

The Lafayette County School District requests a waiver of teacher licensure for its Lafayette County Elementary School and Lafayette County High School.  The District requests this waiver through the 2026-2027 school year.     

The Alma School District requests a waiver of teaching load for its Alma Primary School (Grades K-2) and Alma Intermediate School (Grades 3-5) to accommodate a teacher apprenticeship program.  The District requests this waiver through the 2026-2027 school year.

The Marvell-Elaine School District requests a waiver of teacher and guidance counselor licensure for its Marvell-Elaine Elementary School and Marvell-Elaine High School.  The District requests this waiver through the 2024-2025 school year.      

The Osceola School District requests a waiver of Library Media Specialist licensure for its North Elementary School, Carroll Smith Elementary School, Osceola Middle School, and Osceola High School.  The District requests this waiver through the 2023-2024 school year.   

In an effort to support school districts, the Division of Career and Technical Education will be modifying grade level requirements and teacher licensure requirements for the Keyboarding/KeyCode courses. With the proposed changes, action will need to be taken to adjust the DESE Coding Block from grades 7-8 to grades 5-8. 

The Arkansas Department of Education Office of Computer Science is submitting Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Standards - Middle School Introduction to Coding Standards (formerly Coding Block for Grades 7 and 8) for consideration. The changes within the document include a name change, the allowable grades for instruction (from 7th and 8th to 5th-8th), and clarification on the implementation options and licensure requirements. Attached is the current version of the Coding Block for Grades 7 and 8 that was adopted in December of 2020, and the new Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Standards - Middle School Introduction to Coding Standards for your consideration of adoption to replace the Coding Block for Grades 7 and 8.

The Digital Learning Plan has been reviewed internally by the DESE Review Team and approved by the Charter Authorizing Panel. 

This amendment is being requested to extend the Digital Learning Plan through the duration of the charter for Cross County Elementary Technology Academy

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on September 9, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on November 8, 2021. As a result of public comment, non-substantive changes were made.    

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on September 9, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on December 7, 2021.  As a result of public comment, non-substantive changes were made.    

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on September 9, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on November 8, 2021.  As a result of public comment, non-substantive changes were made.    

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on September, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on November 8, 2021.  As a result of public comment, non-substantive changes were made.    

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on September 9, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on November 8, 2021.  As a result of public comment, non-substantive changes were made.    

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on December 29, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on January 13, 2022.  As a result of public comment, no changes were made.  The Division requests this Board's final approval of these rules.  

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on December 29, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on January 13, 2022.  As a result of public comment, non-substantive changes were made.    

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on December 29, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on January 13, 2022.  As a result of public comment, non-substantive changes were made.  The Division requests this Board's final approval of these rules.  

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on December 29, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on January 27, 2022.  As a result of public comment, no changes were made.  The Division requests this Board's final approval of these rules.  

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on December 29, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on February 10, 2022.  As a result of public comment, no changes were made.  The Division requests this Board's final approval of these rules.  

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on November 10, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on February 7, 2022.  As a result of public comment, some proposed changes were removed.  The Division requests the Board's final approval of these rules.  

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on November 10, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on February 7, 2022.  As a result of public comment, no changes were made.  The Division requests this Board's final approval of these rules.  

This Board approved these rules for public comment release on October 14, 2021, pending Governor's Office approval.  The Governor's Office approved them on February 1, 2022.  As a result of public comment, no changes were made.  The Division requests this Board's final approval of these rules.  

DESE respectfully requests approval of these Rules Governing School Safety pending Governor's Office Approval. 

Reports the number/percent of students in each district that have been coded as virtual learners this year and an update on digital learning and AMI.