Career and Technical Education Month
Student Spotlight:

Mason Flynt, Springdale School District
Roman Hart, Jonesboro School District
Maggie McDonald, Magnolia School District
Reese Owens, White Hall School District
 

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  31 school districts for a total of 39 waivers. There were also requests for long-term substitutes from 78 school districts requesting a total of 195 waivers for long-term substitutes. These requests have been reviewed, were either approved or denied by Department staff, and are consistent with program guidelines.

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

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 of license and assess a $200 fine; Require educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics training provided to Coaches via Arkansas Activities Association. Title: The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence (208p), Author: Dacher Keltner ISBN 10: 0143110292 ISBN 13: 978-0143110293, 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 prepare written reflections on each individual training indicating how the educator will utilize the training to influence her coaching style and her interactions with students athletes and their families to be approved by the Ethics Subcommittee upon completion; require all costs to be paid by educator.
 

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 7:  An educator maintains the confidentiality of information about students and colleagues obtained in the course of the educator's professional services that is protected under state law or regulations, federal law or regulations, or the written policies of the educator's school district, unless disclosure serves a professional purpose as allowed or required by law or regulations. The Professional Licensure Standards Board requests the State Board of Education order:  A 1 year probation of license and assess a $200 fine; require educator to complete the following coursework/readings: SPC17009 Foundations in Special Education: Legal and Ethical Issues Credit Hours: 1, 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, 2022 Professional Licensure Standards Board Code of Ethics training recording; require educator to prepare written reflections on each individual training to the PLSB Ethics Subcommittee regarding how she will implement each training into her classroom and interactions with students; require all costs paid by Educator Herald.

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 written reprimand and assess a $100 fine; require educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics as provided by the PLSB staff. Title: THE Classroom Management Book (320p) Author: Harry K. Wong, Rosemary T. Wong, Sarah F. Jondahl, Oretha F. Ferguson ISBN-13: 978-0976423393 ISBN-10: 0976423391; require educator to provide a written reflection to the PLSB Ethics Subcommittee regarding how each training/book will impact the educator’s professional practices in the future; require all costs paid by Educator Crowe.
 

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, 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 1 year suspension of license followed by a 1 year probation, and assess a $400 fine; a letter stating the educator is fit for the classroom submitted by a licensed healthcare professional 30 days prior to the end of suspension for suspension removal; quarterly updates of the educator’s recovery throughout the suspension and probation; require educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics Training as provided by the PLSB staff. Title: The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence (208p) Author: Dacher Keltner ISBN 10: 0143110292 ISBN 13: 978-0143110293; require educator to prepare written reflection on how these trainings and readings will influence future behaviors; require all costs to be paid by Educator Morgan.
 

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, 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 1 year suspension of license followed by a 1 year probation, and assess a $400 fine; a letter stating the educator is fit for the classroom submitted by a licensed healthcare professional 30 days prior to the end of suspension for suspension removal; quarterly updates of the educator’s recovery throughout the suspension and probation; require educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics Training as provided by the PLSB staff, Title: The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence (208p) Author: Dacher Keltner ISBN 10: 0143110292 ISBN 13: 978-0143110293, Title: Flipping the Switch: Unleash the Power of Personal Accountability Using the QBQ! (144 p) Author: John G. Miller ISBN 10: 0399152334 ISBN 13: 978-0399152337;  require educator to prepare written reflection on how these trainings and readings will influence future behaviors; require all costs paid by Educator Johnson.
 

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 written reprimand and assess a $100 fine; require educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics as provided by the PLSB staff, Title: THE Classroom Management Book (320p) Author: Harry K. Wong, Rosemary T. Wong, Sarah F. Jondahl, Oretha F. Ferguson ISBN-13: 978-0976423393 ISBN-10: 0976423391; require educator to provide a written reflection to the PLSB Ethics Subcommittee regarding how each training/book will impact the educator’s professional practices in the future; require all costs to be paid by Educator Eastwood.
 

The Ozark Mountain School District seeks to close Grades 7-12 at its St. Joe and Bruno-Pyatt campuses, which are "isolated schools," and transfer the students to its Western Grove campus.  The Ozark Mountain School District Board of Directors voted in favor of moving these grades to the Western Grove campus, but the vote was not unanimous (4-3 vote).  Consequently, the District is petitioning the State Board seeking approval of the transfer. 

In compliance with the provisions of A.C.A. § 6-20-2201 et seq., the Annual Statistical Report of the Public Schools for Arkansas, Open Enrollment Charter Schools, and Education Service Cooperatives, 2021-2022 Actual and 2022-2023 Budgeted, (ASR) is considered for adoption by the State Board of Education.

DESE is required to submit the Annual Statistical Report to the state board, Governor, and House and Senate Education committees by February 15 each year.  The report contains information on revenues, expenditures and fund balances for each traditional school district, open-enrollment charter, and education service cooperative in 2021-22, as well as budgeted amounts for 2022-23.  Additionally, data such as millage, assessment, total debt, per pupil expenditures, licensed FTE’s, and licensed classroom FTE’s are included.  These reports are pulled from the statewide eFinance system.  There are summary pages for all traditional school districts (p. 2), open-enrollment charters (p. 253), and education service cooperatives (p. 237).  The report also contains rankings by selected items such as per pupil expenditures, average daily attendance, average daily membership, and average classroom teacher salary.

There is an Excel version of the data that is published on the DESE website at the same time as the PDF version is published.
 

The Division's Rules Governing Home Schools were amended to incorporate provisions of Acts 623 of 2021.  On December 8, 2022, this Board approved the rules for public comment release pending Governor's Office approval, which approval was received on December 15, 2022.  Following public comment, no substantive changes were made to the rules.  The Division asks that the Board give its final approval to these rules.  

On October 13, 2022, the Division's Rules Governing School Counseling Programs were approved for public comment released by this Board pending Governor's Office approval, which approval was received on November 21, 2022.  Following public comment, no substantive changes were made to the rules.  The Division asks that the Board give its final approval to these rules.