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LITTLE ROCK, AR - On Thursday, January 11th, 2024, the Arkansas State Board of Education convened to address crucial items on the published agenda. The meeting, accessible through this link, featured various agenda items, with input from representatives and public commentators.
As the policy-making body for Arkansas's education system, the State Board of Education diligently considered and acted upon several essential agenda items during the meeting:
V. Action Agenda
V.1. One-year Standards for Accreditation Waiver Requests
The board approved the following:
- Decatur Public School District's One-Year Standards for Accreditation Request
- Pulaski County Special School District's One-Year Standards for Accreditation Request
V.2. Consideration of Waiver Requests for the Warren School District
V.2.a. The board accepted the Charter Authorizing panel vote regarding the Warren Middle School rescission of the charter in September of 2023. All associated waivers were rescinded at that time. The Charter Authorizing Panel unanimously voted (7-0) to grant the district's request to rescind the charter and all waivers.
V.2.b. The board approved the Warren School District's request for three-year waivers with an annual reporting requirement, for its middle school, to align with waivers granted for other schools in the district:
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-1004, Qualified teachers in every public
classroom;
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-309, Licensure;
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-401, Teacher's licensure requirement;
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-902, Definition (definition of a teacher as
licensed);
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-908,Teacher's salary fund;
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-919, Warrants void without valid license and
contract;
Standard 4-D.1 Teacher Licensure requirement;
Standard 4-F.1 Library Media Specialist licensure requirement; and
Section 7 of DESE Rules Governing Educator Licensure.
The waivers granted to the district are the same as the ones which had been held by its Middle School Conversion Charter.
V.3. Rules for Special Education and Related Services, Section 10. Mediation and Hearings
The board approved Section 10 Mediation and Hearings of the Rules for Special Education and Related Services.
V.4. Request for Waiver - LA-24-001 - Joseph E. Smith
The board approved the educator's request for a waiver. The Arkansas Department of Education received information that the educator had a true report in the Child Maltreatment Central Registry. Per Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-410, the state board shall not issue a first-time license nor renew an existing license and shall revoke any existing license not up for renewal of any person who has a true report in the Child Maltreatment Central Registry.
V.5. Formation of State Board of Education Committees
State Board of Education Operating Procedures allow for the creation of a committee or task force, established for a specific purpose, by majority vote. The board voted to:
- Create a committee on academic accountability
- Create a committee on early learning
VII. Consent Agenda
The board approved the consent agenda. Items included:
VII.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
VII.3. Consideration of Recommendation for Accredited – Cited Status for 1-C.1.1 Testing at Least 95% of All Students
VII.3.a. Graduate Arkansas Charter High
VII.3.b. Little Rock Southwest High School
VII.3.c. Sylvan Hills High School
VII.3.d. Founders Classical Academy High School Online
VII.3.e. Premier High School of Fort Smith
VII.3.f. Premier High School of Texarkana
VII.3.g. Premier High School Online
VII.4. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-153 Shirley Carr
VII.5. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-092 Charlene Cooper
VII.6. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-048 Jacob Shafer
VII.7. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 20-152 Keith Smith
VII.8. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-069 Dr. Karen Curtner
VII.9. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-070 David Shipman
VII.10. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-076 Jenece Clark
VII.11. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 24-047 Alicia Haney
VII.12. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-077 Casandra Welch
VII.13. Consideration of the Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Case 23-144 Carrie Roff
VII.14. Consideration of the 2024 Proposed Charter Authorizing Panel Meeting Dates
VII.15. Consideration of Charter Authorizing Panel Decision for District Conversion Public Charter School Application - Mountainburg High School
VII.16. Consideration of Charter Authorizing Panel Decision for Haas Hall Academy Amendment Request
VII.17. Consideration of the Charter Authorizing Panel Decision for Academies of West Memphis District Conversion Charter Application Renewal
Item VII.1. Minutes was pulled for an amendment. The board approved the amended minutes.
VIII. Reports
VIII.1. Earle School District Quarterly Report
VIII.2. Helena-West Helena Quarterly Report
VIII.3. Lee County Quarterly Report
VIII.4. Marvell-Elaine Reports
VIII.5. Pine Bluff Report
VIII.6. Watson Chapel School District Update
Sheila Whitlow, Associate Deputy Commissioner, Office of Coordinated Support and Service, provided an update.
VIII.7. Board Reports
No reports were provided.
VIII.8. ATOY Report
Arkansas Teacher of the Year, Capri Salaam, provided a report.
VIII.9. Commissioner's Report
No report was provided.
As part of its regular schedule, the State Board convenes on the second Thursday and Friday of each month to address issues impacting the educational landscape. Each meeting aims to consider, vote on, or generate orders related to agenda items.
For more information and to access the agenda and documents for this meeting, please click here.
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