Act 44 of the Second Extraordinary Session of 2003 established the Master Principal Program for the purpose of developing, supporting, and designating Master Principals in the state of Arkansas.  Based on the criteria, three principals have qualified for designation during the 2022-2023 school year.   
 

Steven Helmick, Principal at Don Roberts Elementary School in the Little Rock School District

The Jackson County School District is seeking an extension of its Act 1240 waivers for five years. 

The Nettleton School District is seeking waivers to continue its digital learning program. These waivers are being requested for one year.

The North Little Rock School District is seeking waivers to continue its digital learning program. These waivers are being requested for one year.

The Sloan-Hendrix School District is seeking waivers to continue its digital learning program. These waivers are being requested for one year.

The Westside Consolidated School District is seeking waivers to implement its innovative block schedule. These waivers are being requested for one year.

The Office of Public School Accountability Standards and Systems Support Unit has found Watson Chapel School District to be in violation of the following Probationary Standards for Accreditation.

Standard 2-B.2 Each public school district shall maintain accurate student attendance records in a format prescribed by the Division (D/P)

Standard 1-C.2 Each public school district shall adopt graduation requirements in accordance with the laws of the State of Arkansas and the rules of the Division and include the graduation requirements in the student handbook (D/P)

Standard 1-C.2.1 Each public school district shall maintain accurate student records including graduation requirements (D/P)

The Assessment Office requests State Board approval so that these cut scores may be applied to the Operational Year 1 Alt ELPA.

The Department of Education is requesting State Board approval of the DESE Rules Governing Educational Freedom Accounts Payment Processing. These rules are being promulgated under the emergency rule provisions of the Arkansas Administrative Procedures Act. 

The Department of Education is requesting State Board final approval of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Rules Governing School Safety. A public comment hearing was conducted on September 28, 2023. The rules were revised but no substantive changes were made. 

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 117 school districts for a total of 313  waivers. There were also requests for long-term substitutes from 32 school districts requesting a total of 74 waivers for long-term substitutes. These requests have been reviewed, were either approved or denied by DESE 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 - 1 SECOND LIEN; 2 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.  

ABC is requesting to relocate 36 relinquished ABC center-based slots to ABC programs with ABC eligible children on their wait list. The six ABC pre-k programs receiving additional slots have space in their current pre-k classrooms to serve the additional ABC qualifying children for the 2023-2024 program year. This reallocation of slots will expand the availability of ABC funding to ABC programs to provide early childhood services to qualifying families and children in their community.

Kids Place Learning Center, Inc. dba Kid Spot of Jonesboro converted 54 of their Home Visiting slots to 20 center-based slots, amending their award to160 total center-based slots and 30 home visiting slots for the 2023-2024 program year. This reallocation falls within the original FY24 approved funding.
 

Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) is requesting approval to transfer the Pre-K RISE Specialist position from the Office of Learning Services Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant to the Office of Early Childhood ABC Professional Service Grant: Early Childhood Specialist Project.  The addition of this position to the Office of Early Childhood will support the alignment of high-quality learning environments, provide professional learning and coaching to early childhood educators needed to provide quality early learning experiences that promote strong foundational literacy for kindergarten readiness required by the LEARNS legislation. The request to increase the original grant award by $100,000 will cover the salary, fringe, and travel for the Pre-K RISE Lead Specialist. 
 

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.
 

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 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), Title: The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success -- No Nonsense, No Excuses (256p) Author: Linda Galindo ISBN 10:ISBN 13: 9780470500163, and Title: The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence (208p)Author: Dacher Keltner ISBN 10: 0143110292 ISBN 13: 978-0143110293. Require Educator to provide written reflection on each training/book indicating how they will impact the educator’s interactions with students. Due to the PLSB for approval within 90 days of the State Board Order. Progress report from the educator’s supervisor at the end of each semester during the time of the probation. (All cost paid by Educator Ponder)
 

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 2 years and assess a $300 fine. Require Educator to complete the following coursework/readings: 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 due to the PLSB for approval within 30 days prior to the end of their suspension for suspension removal. Educator shall provide proof of continued attendance at an alcohol addiction management, recovery, and support program quarterly to the Ethics Subcommittee during suspension and probation. 30 days prior to the end of suspension, the educator shall provide proof of completion of an alcohol treatment program and a letter from a licensed medical professional stating the educator is ready to return to the classroom. (All cost paid by Educator Brown)
 

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 access a fine of 500.
 

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 and access a fine of $500.
 

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 2 years and assess a $300 fine. Require Educator to complete the following coursework/readings: 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 due to the PLSB for approval within 30 days prior to the end of their suspension for suspension removal. Educator shall provide proof of continued attendance at an alcohol addiction management, recovery, and support program quarterly to the Ethics Subcommittee during suspension and probation. 30 days prior to the end of suspension, the educator shall provide a letter from a licensed medical professional stating the educator is ready to return to the classroom. (All cost paid by Educator Summers)
 

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 and access a fine of $500.
 

The Professional Licensure Standards Board requests the State Board of Education grant approval to remove educator’s probation of license issued by the State Board of Education. Educator has submitted his final written reflection for approval and has met all his requirements for sanction removal.
 

Premier High School North Little Rock and Premier High School Springdale is requesting a waiver of Ark. Code Ann. 6-17-2403 (f)(2)(A)(i), concerning utilizing an amount of state funds equal  to eighty percent (80%) or more of the amount allocated for school-level personnel salaries, in order to qualify for additional teacher compensation funds under the LEARNS Act.  The amendment request was unanimously approved by the Charter Authorizing Panel.

Pinecrest Preparatory Academy Fayetteville has submitted an application to establish an open-enrollment charter school  beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.  This charter will follow the college prep education model.  The Charter Authorizing Panel voted to unanimously approve the open enrollment charter school.  

CIVICA Career and Collegiate Academy Bentonville has submitted an application to establish an open-enrollment charter school beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.  The charter will follow a traditional and college prep educational model.  The Charter Authorizer Panel voted unanimously to approve the open enrollment charter  school.