skip to main content
Meeting Agenda
I. Call to Order
II. Moment of Silence 
III. Recognition 
III.1. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission
IV. Changes to Agenda
V. Action Agenda 
V.1. School Choice Appeals under the Public School Choice Act of 2015
V.1.a. School Choice Appeal - Henry
V.2. Arkansas Secondary Math Standards
V.3. Annual ESC Reports
V.4. Consideration of Extension of Act 1240 Waiver: Helena-West Helena School District
V.5. Consideration of Request for Approval to Release for Public Comment: DESE Rules Governing School Safety
VI. Consent Agenda
VI.1. Minutes 
VI.2. Report on Waivers to School Districts for Teachers Teaching Out of Area for Longer than Thirty (30) Days, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-309
 
VI.3. 2023-2024 Embedded Courses
VI.4. Consideration of Amendment Request for Bauxite Miner Academy 
VI.5. Consideration of Amendment Request for Imboden Area Charter School
VI.6. Review of Loan and Bond Applications
VI.7. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-076 Michael Philpot.
 
VI.8. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-087 Caleb Spears.
 
VI.9. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-091 Cleveland Gordon Jr.
 
VI.10. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-104 Amber Duch.
 
VI.11. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-135 Colleen O’Connor.
 
VII. New Business
VIII. Reports 
VIII.1. Board Liaison Reports 
VIII.2. ATOY Report 
VIII.3. Commissioner's Report 
VIII.3.a. Pine Bluff School District 
IX. Public Comments
X. Adjournment
Agenda Item Details Reload Your Meeting
Meeting: August 10, 2023 at 9:00 AM - State Board of Education
Subject:
I. Call to Order
Presenter:
Dr. Sarah Moore
Subject:
II. Moment of Silence 
Subject:
III. Recognition 
Presenter:
Secretary Jacob Oliva
Subject:
III.1. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission
Presenter:
Dushun Scarbrough
Subject:
IV. Changes to Agenda
Presenter:
Dr. Sarah Moore
Subject:
V. Action Agenda 
Subject:
V.1. School Choice Appeals under the Public School Choice Act of 2015
Presenter:
Shastady Wagner
Description:
Each appeal under this section was timely filed. These appeals come to the State Board of Education due to the nonresident district denying the applicant on the basis of lack of capacity.
Attachments:
Subject:
V.1.a. School Choice Appeal - Henry
Presenter:
Shastady Wagner
Description:
The family appeals the rejection of their school choice application by the nonresident school district, Barton, due to lack of capacity. The resident school district is the Helena West Helena School District.
Attachments:
Subject:
V.2. Arkansas Secondary Math Standards
Presenter:
Dr. Kiffany Pride / Amy Counts
Description:
Consideration of secondary Math Standards is respectfully submitted to the State Board of Education for approval. Groups of educators, representative of the State, revised the standards for Algebra II, Algebra III, Technical Math, Quantitative Reasoning, Advanced Topics & Modeling, Statistics, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, and Critical Algebra I. Schools will fully implement in the 2023-2024 school year. 
Attachments:
Subject:
V.3. Annual ESC Reports
Presenter:
Stacy Smith
Attachments:
Subject:
V.4. Consideration of Extension of Act 1240 Waiver: Helena-West Helena School District
Presenter:
Shastady Wagner
Description:
The Helena-West Helena School District is seeking a waiver of educator licensure. The district is seeking the waiver for a three-year period. The waiver will expire June 30, 2026.
Attachments:
Subject:
V.5. Consideration of Request for Approval to Release for Public Comment: DESE Rules Governing School Safety
Presenter:
Shastady Wagner
Description:
The Division requests approval to release for public comment, the rules governing school safety, which incorporate the requirements of Ark. Code Ann. 6-10-121, 6-10-128, 6-15-1302, 6-15-1303, and 6-17-113. 
Subject:
VI. Consent Agenda
Presenter:
Dr. Sarah Moore
Subject:
VI.1. Minutes 
Presenter:
Angela Scaife
Attachments:
Subject:
VI.2. Report on Waivers to School Districts for Teachers Teaching Out of Area for Longer than Thirty (30) Days, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-309
 
Presenter:
Whitney James
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 27 school districts for a total of 59 waivers. There were also requests for long-term substitutes from 1 school districts requesting a total of 2 waivers for long-term substitutes. These requests have been reviewed, were either approved or denied by DESE staff, and are consistent with program guidelines.
Attachments:
Subject:
VI.3. 2023-2024 Embedded Courses
Presenter:
Dr. Kiffany Pride / Amy Counts
Description:
Act 321 of 2013 allows curriculum frameworks from two separate courses to be taught in a single course, known as a combined or embedded course.  School districts have applied for approval of combined or embedded courses and assured, in writing, that the curriculum frameworks for both courses will fully taught in the combined or embedded course.  The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education respectfully requests the State Board of Education (SBE) approve the embedded courses attached, understanding that when the curriculum frameworks for one of the courses are revised, a new course approval request must be submitted to the SBE, and approval must be granted before a school would be allowed to offer the embedded course.
Attachments:
Subject:
VI.4. Consideration of Amendment Request for Bauxite Miner Academy 
Presenter:
Dorie Summons, Public Charter School Director
Description:
Bauxite Miner Academy is requesting to
  • Remove ALE from LEA 6301703 Miner Academy.  
  • Place ALE for Grades 6-8 under LEA 6301003 Bauxite Middle School.
  • Place ALE for Grades 9-12 under LEA 6301002 Bauxite High School.  
Attachments:
Subject:
VI.5. Consideration of Amendment Request for Imboden Area Charter School
Presenter:
Dorie Summons, Charter Director
Description:
The district is requesting to change physical locations.  
Attachments:
Subject:
VI.6. Review of Loan and Bond Applications
Presenter:
Anita Freer
Description:
The members of the Arkansas State Board of Education are requested to review the following:
Commercial Bond Applications - 5 SECOND LIEN; 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.  
Attachments:
Subject:
VI.7. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-076 Michael Philpot.
 
Presenter:
Whitney James
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 Permanent Revocation of License and assess a $500 fine.
 
Subject:
VI.8. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-087 Caleb Spears.
 
Presenter:
Whitney James
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 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 Probation of License and assess a $200 fine. Require Educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics as provided by the PLSB staff, Title: The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success -- No Nonsense, No Excuses (256p) Author:  Linda Galindo ISBN 10: ISBN 13: 9780470500163, and 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. Written reflection on each training/book regarding how the educator will improve his interactions with students in the future. Due to the PLSB?for approval within 90 days of the State Board Order and require Educator to pay all associated costs.
 
Subject:
VI.9. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-091 Cleveland Gordon Jr.
 
Presenter:
Whitney James
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 Written Reprimand and assess a $100 fine. Require Educator to complete the following coursework/readings: 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: 978-173303561. A written reflection on each training/book regarding how the educator will improve his interactions with students in the future. Anger Management class (as evidenced by completion certificate). Educator to pay all associated costs.
 
Subject:
VI.10. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-104 Amber Duch.
 
Presenter:
Whitney James
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 Level 2 Public Notification of Ethics Violation and assess a $200 fine. Require Educator to complete the following coursework/readings: Code of Ethics as provided by the PLSB staff, Title: Real Talk About Classroom Management: 50 Best Practices That Work and Show You Believe in Your Students (296p) Author: Serena Pariser ISBN-13: 978-1544317755 ISBN-10: 1544317751, Title: The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success -- No Nonsense, No Excuses (256p) Author: Linda Galindo ISBN 10:ISBN 13: 9780470500163. A written reflection on each training/book regarding how the educator will improve her professional practices in the future. Educator to pay all associated costs.
 
Subject:
VI.11. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-135 Colleen O’Connor.
 
Presenter:
Whitney James
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. Professional Licensure Standards Board requests the State Board of Education order a Permanent Revocation of License and assess a $500 fine.
 
Subject:
VII. New Business
Subject:
VIII. Reports 
Presenter:
Dr. Sarah Moore
Subject:
VIII.1. Board Liaison Reports 
Presenter:
Dr. Sarah Moore
Subject:
VIII.2. ATOY Report 
Presenter:
Capri Salaam
Subject:
VIII.3. Commissioner's Report 
Presenter:
Secretary Oliva
Subject:
VIII.3.a. Pine Bluff School District 
Presenter:
Stacy Smith, Deputy Commissioner
Description:
Appointed in December 2022, the Pine Bluff School District Limited Authority Board was established to assist in a seamless transition between state and local control. This report serves as a current review of the progress made towards achieving the goal of attaining local control.
Attachments:
Subject:
IX. Public Comments
Subject:
X. Adjournment

Web Viewer