July 9, 2020 at 10:00 AM - State Board of Education

Description:  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 2020 Designated Master Principals will be announced.

Description:  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. 

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 28 school districts for a total of 49 waivers. There were also requests for long-term substitutes from 3 school districts requesting a total of 6 waivers for long-term substitutes. These requests have been reviewed, were either approved or denied by Department staff, and are consistent with program guidelines. 

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 Ethics Subcommittee recommends that the State Board order a Permanent Non-Renewal by State Board of Education; assess a $500.00 fine to be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order 

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 Ethics Subcommittee recommends that the State Board order a Permanent Revocation of License or Non-Renewal by State Board of Education; assess a $500.00 fine to be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order 

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 Ethics Subcommittee recommends that the State Board order a Permanent Non-renewal; assess a $500.00 fine to be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order

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 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 Ethics Subcommittee recommends that the State Board order a One-Year Suspension; assess a $400.00 fine to be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order; required to complete through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal ERC19048: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): The Code of Ethics Training Video (2018); A letter from a licensed mental health professional stating that the educator is able to return to the classroom prior to the end of suspension.  Educator will provide quarterly written reflection indicating how treatment is progressing and will impact interactions with students in the future. To be completed within thirty (30) days of the end of suspension. (All costs paid by Educator Gass within 90 days of the State Board Order.)

Description:  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 3. An educator honestly fulfills reporting obligations associated with professional practices. The Professional Licensure Standards Board Ethics Subcommittee recommends that the State Board order a One-Year Suspension; assess a $400.00 fine to be paid within ninety (90) days of the State Board Final Order; required to complete through the ArkansasIDEAS online portal ERC19048: Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB): The Code of Ethics Training Video (2018); Title: QBQ! The question Behind the question: Practicing Personal Accountability at Work and in Life (160p) Author: John G. Miller ISBN-10: 0399152334; ISBN-13L 978-0399152337; Title: The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success – No Nonsense No Excuses (256p) Author: Linda Galindo ISBN 13: 9780470500163 Educator will provide written reflections on how each of these trainings will impact her professionalism, interactions with students and student information in the future. To be completed thirty (30) days prior to the end of the suspension. (All costs paid by Educator Robertson, due within 90 days of the State Board Order.) 

Description:  Per Act 648 of 1993, Community Service Learning community-based organizations may apply to their local school board for approval to work with school districts as a community service site provider.  These site applications are presented to the State Board of Education (SBE) twice a year, July/August and December/January.  The attached 33 sites have sent in application for SBE approval.

Description:  The Arkansas Department of Education received information that educator’s license was revoked in the State of Missouri. Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-410 authorizes the Board to revoke, suspend, or place on probation an educator’s license for “cause’. Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-410 provides that “cause” is defined as having a license revoked in another state.  The Department is recommending that Mr. Barrow’s license be revoked.

Description:  The family appeals the denial of their school choice application. The Non-Resident District, Palestine-Wheatley School District, denied the application based on a lack of capacity. The Resident District is Lee County School District. 

Description:  The family appeals the denial of their school choice application. The Non-Resident District, Palestine-Wheatley School District, denied the application based on a lack of capacity. The Resident District is Lee County School District. 

Description:  The family appeals the denial of their school choice application. The Non-Resident school district, Lakeside School District (Garland County), denied the school choice application due to its on-going federal desegregation requirements. The Resident district is Malvern School District. 

Description:  The family appeals the denial of their school choice application. The Resident District, Guy-Perkins School District, has reached its numerical 3% maximum. The Non-Resident District is Greenbrier School District. 

Description:  The family appeals the denial of their school choice application. The Resident District, Guy-Perkins School District, has reached its numerical 3% maximum. The Non-Resident District is Greenbrier School District. 

Description:  The family appeals the denial of their school choice application. The Resident District, Guy-Perkins School District, has reached its numerical 3% maximum. The Non-Resident District is Greenbrier School District. 

Description:  The family appeals the denial of their school choice application. The Resident District, Guy-Perkins School District, has reached its numerical 3% maximum. The Non-Resident District is Greenbrier School District. 

Description:  The family appeals the denial of their school choice application. The Resident District, Guy-Perkins School District, has reached its numerical 3% maximum. The Non-Resident District is Greenbrier School District. 

Description:  The family appeals the denial of their school choice application. The Resident District, Guy-Perkins School District, has reached its numerical 3% maximum. The Non-Resident District is Greenbrier School District. 

Description:  The family appeals the denial of their school choice application. The Resident District, Guy-Perkins School District, has reached its numerical 3% maximum. The Non-Resident District is Quitman School District. 

Description:  The Earle School District is requesting a one-year Standards for Accreditation waiver for class size  (Standard 1-A.6) for Algebra and Geometry for the 2020-2021 school year.   

Description:  According to Arkansas Code Annotated 6-15-103, a school district can petition the State Board of Education for all or some of the waivers granted to an Open-Enrollment Public Charter School.  Representatives of the Pea Ridge School District are appearing before the Board with a petition of waivers.

Description: 
These Rules have been amended to incorporate the changes of Act 757 of 2019.  A public comment hearing was held on May 26, 2020.  Public comments were received, but resulted in no substantive changes to the Rules. DESE staff respectfully request the State Board grant final approval of these Rules. 

Description:  The State Board released these proposed rules for public comment on October 10, 2019.  Following Governor’s Office approval, they were released for public comment.  A public comment hearing was held on May 26, 2020, and the public comment period ended June 8, 2020.  Public comments received did not result in substantive changes. DESE staff respectfully requests that the State Board give final approval to these proposed rules pending Arkansas Legislative Council review. 

Description:  The State Board released these proposed rules for public comment on November 14, 2019.  Following Governor’s Office approval, they were released for public comment.  A public comment hearing was held on May 26, 2020, and the public comment period ended June 8, 2020.  No public comments were received. DESE staff respectfully requests that the State Board give final approval to these proposed rules pending Arkansas Legislative Council review. 
and approval.

Description:  The State Board released these proposed rules for public comment on September 20, 2019.  Following Governor’s Office approval, they were released for public comment.  A public comment hearing was held on March 11, 2020, and the public comment period ended March 27, 2020.  Public comments were received, but did not result in substantive changes. DESE staff respectfully requests that the State Board give final approval to these proposed rules pending Arkansas Legislative Council review. 

Description:  The State Board released these proposed rules for public comment on September 13, 2019.  Following Governor’s Office approval, they were released for public comment.  A public comment hearing was held on April 13, 2020, and the public comment period ended April 20, 2020.  Public comments were received, but did not result in substantive changes to the rules. DESE staff respectfully requests that the State Board give final approval to these proposed rules pending Arkansas Legislative Council review. 

Description:  The State Board released these proposed rules for public comment on September 19, 2019.  Following Governor’s Office approval, they were released for public comment.  A public comment hearing was held on April 13, 2020, and the public comment period ended April 20,, 2020.  Public comments were received, but did not result in substantive changes to this rule. DESE staff respectfully requests that the State Board give final approval to these proposed rules pending Arkansas Legislative Council review. 

Description:  Changes to these Rules were made to incorporate provisions of Acts 641 and 428 of 2019 and to incorporate updated federal guidance. In addition to a public comment period, these rules have been reviewed by the Child Health Advisory Committee and the State Board of Health. DESE staff requests final approval for these Rules. 

Description:  Act 421 of 2013 allows curriculum frameworks from two (2) separate courses to be taught in a single course, known as a combined or embedded course. Several school districts made application to - Humanities Unit for approval of the combined or embedded course and assured, in writing. that the curriculum frameworks for both courses will be fully taught in the combined or embedded course. Division of Elementary and Secondary Education staff respectfully requests the State Board of Education (SBE) approve the embedded courses as listed below, 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 courses.

Description:  Pursuant to the authority granted to the State Board of Education, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) - Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) respectfully requests approval of the Arkansas Better Chance Program Renewal Grants Round Two for the 2020-2021 school year in the total amount of $157,100.

Description:  Consideration of the Fine Arts Standards are respectfully submitted to the State Board of Education for approval. In the past year, a group of educators representative of the State revised standards and created four booklets comprised of Music, Visual Art, Dance, and Theater. Schools will begin implementing standards in the 2020-2021 school year and fully implement by the 2021-2022 school year. 

Description:  The Standards for Accreditation were updated and final July 1, 2020. As a result of numbering changes, approval from the State Board is necessary to transitions waivers held under the 2018 version of the Standards to the 2020 version of the Standards. None of these waivers will change substantively. 

Description:  Review of proposed changes to the operating procedures.