Educator Licensure/PLSB/OEE
Update
presented by ADE
Ivy Pfeffer, Assistant Commissioner
Sandra Hurst, Director of Educator Effectiveness
Karli Saracini, Director of Educator Licensure
Cheryl Reinhart, Director of PLSB
June 5, 2015
Develop, Support, Retain
Ivy Pfeffer
Assistant Commissioner
The Attorney General’s Office
o Acts with Emergency clauses take effect when
the Governor signs.
o Effectual date for all acts without emergency
clauses is July 22, 2015
o Acts with specified effect date take effect on
the date specified in the legislation.
The Educator Workforce
Attract, Support, Retain
Sandra Hurst
Director of Educator Effectiveness
Act 1091 of 2015
Professional Learning Plan
The overall school district plan
And
Professional Growth Plan
An individual educator’s plan under
TESS or LEADS
ADE Commissioner’s Memo: LIC-15-029
5/22/2015
Act 1091 of 2015
Required Professional Development
Hours
½ based on the Educator’s PGP
New Educators: Teachers and
Administrators
Develop PGP 1st Semester – Act on goals 2nd
semester, aligned with Mentoring Modules
ADE Commissioner’s Memo: LIC-15-026
4/27/2015
Act 1091 of 2015 (cont’d)
Virtual Environment Teacher
May be observed by appropriate
technology
ADE Commissioner’s Memo: LIC-15-029
5/22/2015
Act 1091 of 2015 (cont’d)
School District and Public Charter
Statement of Assurance
TESS Evaluators are trained
TESS Evaluators are credentialed
ADE Commissioner’s Memo: LIC-15-029
5/22/2015
Act 1091 of 2015 (cont’d)
Summative Evaluations
Now required every 4 years
Informal Observations
Now permissive in Summative Year
ADE Commissioner’s Memo: LIC-15-029
5/22/2015
Track 1
Probationary/
Novice*
Year 3: SUMMATIVE EVALUATION
FORMAL OBSERVATION –Pre and Post
Conference
INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS - may be conducted
COLLABORATIVE PGP – review and/or revise
SUMMATIVE EVALUATION MEETING - summative
rating results over all components
AR-TESS
Teacher Tracks
Track 2
Interim Teacher
Appraisal Process
Track 3
Intensive
Support Status
FORMAL OBSERVATION –Pre and Post
Conference
INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS - focusing on PGP
growth components
COLLABORATIVE PGP – review and/or revise
SUMMATIVE EVALUATION MEETING - summative
rating results over all components
2A: SUMMATIVE EVALUATION
SUMMATIVE EVALUATION
Year 2: SUMMATIVE EVALUATION
FORMAL OBSERVATION –Pre and Post
Conference
INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS - may be conducted
COLLABORATIVE PGP – review and/or revise
SUMMATIVE EVALUATION MEETING summative rating results over all components
Year 1: SUMMATIVE EVALUATION
FORMAL OBSERVATION –Pre and Post
Conference
INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS - may be conducted
COLLABORATIVE PGP – Develop PGP
SUMMATIVE EVALUATION MEETING summative rating results over all components
COLLABORATIVE INTENSIVE
PGP – review and/or revise often
MAY INCLUDE INFORMAL AND
FORMAL OBSERVATIONS
FREQUENT TEACHER &
EVALUATOR CONFERENCES
Note: Teacher may remain in this
track for two semesters; and two
additional semesters may be added if
improvement is observed.
Student growth will be a component of the educator’s
overall rating. Student growth data will be available
after the performance rating is established each year,
in both summative and interim appraisal tracks.
*1) A first year teacher is both a novice and probationary teacher.
2)"Probationary teacher" means a teacher who has not completed three (3) successive years of employment in the
school district in which the teacher is currently employed. A teacher employed in a school district in this state for three
(3) years or a teacher who has been given credit for a prior service in another school district shall be deemed to have
completed the probationary period; however, an employing school district may, by a majority vote of the directors,
provide for one (1) additional year of probationary status. Arkansas Code: § 6-17-1502
2B3: INTERIM APPRAISAL
INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS - focusing on PGP
growth components
COLLABORATIVE PGP – review and/or revise
END OF YEAR REVIEW - professional practice
rating
2B2: INTERIM APPRAISAL
INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS - focusing on PGP
growth components
COLLABORATIVE PGP – review and/or revise
END OF YEAR REVIEW - professional practice
rating
2B1: INTERIM APPRAISAL
INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS - focusing on PGP
growth components
COLLABORATIVE PGP – review and/or revise
END OF YEAR REVIEW - professional practice
rating
TESS does not conflict with, nor replace the Arkansas Teacher Fair Dismissal Act (ATFDA).
Revised 4/3/15
Probationary/
Novice Category
Year 3
•Professional Growth Plan Monitored and Revised
•Formative Assessment Conferences
•Summative Evaluation Conference
Over all required functions; PGP is revised based
on feedback from evaluations; Student growth
Data included with professional practice rating
Year 2
•Professional Growth Plan Monitored and Revised
•Formative Assessment Conferences
•Summative Evaluation Conference
Over all required functions; PGP is revised based
on feedback from evaluations; Student growth
Data included with professional practice rating
AR-LEADS
Evaluation
Categories
•Professional Growth Plan Monitored and Revised
•Formative Assessment Conferences
•Summative Evaluation Conference
Over all required functions; PGP is revised based
on feedback from evaluations; Student growth
Data included with professional practice rating
Summative Evaluation Year
•Professional Growth Plan Monitored and
Revised
•Formative Assessment Conferences
•Summative Evaluation Conference
Over all required functions; PGP is revised based
on feedback from evaluations
Intensive Category
• Intensive Growth Plan (IGP)
Interim Appraisal
Develop based on identified
areas of need
• Multiple Formative Assessment
Conferences and Observation
of PGP Progress
(Non-Summative Years)
•
Conference to discuss final ratings
(formative work of IGP considered)
Note: An administrator may remain in the
Intensive Category for up to 2
consecutive semesters. Two additional
semesters may be added if progress is
observed.
PGP
Focus on and review throughout the year
Collect evidence and artifacts
Multiple conferences between
principal/supervisor to monitor
progress
• Summative Evaluation
Year 1
Inquiry Category
Reflect on Progress
Revise as needed
•
Conversations
Focus on PGP and evidence
•
End of Year Conference
Professional Growth Plan and performance rating
results based on functions outlined in PGP
-Interim Appraisal is 3 years of the 4 Year
Inquiry Category cycle
-Student Growth Data will be included in an
Administrator’s Yearly Rating
Revised 4.8.15
Act 1091 of 2015 (cont’d)
• Repeals the use of external assessments in teacher
evaluations as originally set out in the law ; Replaces the old
language with the method for assigning an annual overall
rating that includes student growth as determined by the SBE
(aligns with ESEA requirements but leaves flexibility for state to make changes
within rules and regs)
o Annual Overall Rating
o During Summative Years, all components are rated
o During Interim Appraisal
o Student Growth
ADE Commissioner’s Memo: LIC-15-029
5/22/2015
Training for Currently Employed Administrators & Teachers
Administrators
Teachers
• Law and Process
Update
• Law and Process
Update
– ADE Website:
Approximately one hour
– Should be reviewed prior
to the start of the 201516 SY
– ADE Website:
Approximately one hour
– Should be reviewed prior
to the start of the 201516 SY
ADE Commissioner’s Memo: LIC-15-026
4/27/2015
Training for Currently Employed
Administrators and Teachers
Administrators
 TESS & LEADS Support
Training: Calibration and
Coaching- summer 2015
-Co-ops
Teachers
• Arkansas IDEAS new
modules aligned to
Framework for Teaching
• BloomBoard for
Teachers training
- Co-ops
ADE Commissioner’s Memo: LIC-15-026
4/27/2015
Training for Beginning Administrators and
Novice Teachers
Administrators
– 3 hour law and process (will
include TESS and LEADS)
• Offered at AAEA summer
and fall conferences as part
of BA induction
– Teachscape Credentialing for
proficiency
• Accounts can be secured as
soon as administrator is
hired (see ADE
Commissioner memo)
ADE Commissioner’s Memo: LIC-15-026
4/27/2015
Teachers
– 3 hour law and process
• Teachers from Out of state or those
who have not been in an educator
preparation program in the past 2
years
• Recommended for all new teachers
• Training at co-op or at district using
ADE provided materials
– Framework for Teaching• Out of state or those who have not
been in an educator preparation
program in the past 2 years• Recommended for all new teachers
• Online training accounts will be
provided to schools; completion of
all modules takes approximately 24
hours; total required hours at
discretion of district
Arkansas BloomBoard Training
Administrators
Teachers
• A BloomBoard training
session will be held at the
AAEA Summer conference
• A BloomBoard Teacher
Training will be held at coops this summer
• New teachers will need
training on technical
aspects of BloomBoard as
well
– Train administrator on how to
use the tool to initiate
observations, how to collect
data, how to rate
performance and prescribe
resources
– Co-ops may wish to provide
updates for effective
BloomBoard use
ADE Commissioner’s Memo: LIC-15-026
4/27/2015
– District Provided
• By SuperUsers
• Peers
• BloomBoard Webinars
– At co-ops
New TESS & LEADS Resource
On ADE Teacher Evaluation
System Home Page:
 Training Requirements &
Documents
 TESS & LEADS Charts
 TESS & LEADS Forms
 BloomBoard Information
ADE CM:
LIC-15-029
5/22/2015
ADE CM:
LIC-15-029
5/22/2015
ADE CM:
LIC-15-029
5/22/2015
ADE CM:
LIC-15-029
5/22/2015
Update Focus for 2015-16
TESS & LEADS Focus Groups
(May , 2015)
1.Sharing Information
29 Groups
197 Educators
2.TESS & LEADS Update
91 Districts and Charters Responses
ADE Commissioner’s Memo: LIC-15-021
3/30/2015
Commissioner’s Memos
Number
Content
LIC – 15-029
TESS Statute Updates
LIC-15-026
TESS & LEADS Training
Update
LIC-15-024
Beginning
Administrator and
Novice Teacher
Mentoring Update
LIC-15-023
Beginning
Administrator
TEACHSCAPE Accounts
Prepare and Extend
Karli Saracini
Director of Educator Licensure
New Educator Licensure Areas
American Sign Language K-12
Computer Science 4-12
Dyslexia Therapist K-12
Early Childhood/Special Education Integrated B-K
Ages 3-4 Special Education Endorsement
26
Dyslexia Therapist
The Educator Preparation section is currently working with Institutions of Higher
Education (IHE) on the creation and approval of programs of study for the
Dyslexia Therapist Endorsement (Grades K-12).
Approved Program:
oHarding University
Program Currently Under Review:
oArkansas State University
oHenderson State University
oUA Fayetteville
oUA Little Rock
oUniversity of Central Arkansas
Letter of Interest Submitted:
oArkansas Tech University
oSouthern Arkansas University
oUA Pine Bluff
All programs will be graduate level and will lead to an endorsement to a
standard educator license.
27
Act 187 Computer Science
Act 187 of 2015 mandates each public high school and public
charter school to offer a course in computer science beginning
in 2015-16 school year. LS-15-067
4 Courses Approved to fulfill Act 187:
oEssentials of Computer Programming 460020
•
•
Computer Science License- (528)
Business License- (250, 224, 225)
oComputer Science and Mathematics
439100-Math License (200)
460050- CS or Business License (528 or 250, 225,225)
oAP Computer Science 560050
oIB Computer Science 560060
•
See secondary licensure codes at:
http://www.arkansased.gov/public/userfiles/HR_and_Educator_Effectiveness/HR_Educator_Licensure/NEW_AREAS_AN
D_LEVELS_BY_CODES_2-11-2013.pdf
Computer Science
At its May 2015 meeting, the State Board of Education adopted
the Praxis™ Computer Science (5651) test with a cut score of
171 effective immediately. This test is required for Computer
Science (4-12) licensure.
Options:
o Adding to an existing license through testing
o Obtaining a first-time license through a nontraditional
PPTL, MAT, APPEL
o Utilizing Virtual Arkansas to teach a required course
29
Computer Science
The Praxis™ Computer Science (5651) 2015-2016 Testing Windows:
o June 15-26, 2015
o
o
o
o
o
o
August 10-22, 2015
Sept 8-19, 2015
Nov 2-14, 2015
Feb 1-13, 2016
April 4-16, 2016
July 4-16, 2016
Assessment fee reimbursement is available to eligible test takers (TBA).
30
Provisional Professional Teaching License
Definition: A three-year provisional educator license issued to an experienced professional for the
purpose of teaching middle or secondary in an Arkansas public or charter school.
Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.7 overall grade point
3 years of verified employment experience in specific content area
Justification Letter of experience in the content area by the applicant
2 professional recommendation letters
Passing scores on PraxisTM Core or approved equivalent exam
31
Provisional Professional Teaching License
Passing scores PraxisTM content exam
Cleared background checks and Child Maltreatment Central registry
check
Teach part time or full time
Letter of eligibility from the Office of Educator Licensure
Provisional license issued upon offer of employment
3 years to complete the PPTL PraxisTM pedagogy
32
Provisional Professional Teaching License
24 hours of training in pedagogy (TESS)
Mentored for 2 years
Proficient or above on the summative evaluation at
end of 3 years
Recommendation from employing superintendent for
the standard license
Pay $75 license fee
33
Waiver Requests/ALP, ALCP
An educator must:
o Hold a standard Arkansas educator license in a licensure content area or a
provisional license issued by reciprocity only lacking AR History (if applicable), or
o Meet the teaching and administrative experience requirement for ALCP.
Additional Licensure Plan (ALP)
o Apply within 30 school days of hiring an educator:
o Completed Waiver Request Form
o Plan of Study For Adding a Licensure Area Form
o Timeline
o ALP Form
Administrator Licensure Completion Plan (ALCP)
o Completed Waiver Request Form
o Plan of Study for Adding a Licensure Area Form
o Timeline
o Completed ALCP Form
o Documentation of required experience
34
Act 1240 School District Waivers
o Allows schools districts to be granted the same
waivers that are granted to an open-enrollment
public charter that draws students from the
school district.
o Must petition State Board of Education
o Charter Waivers are posted on ADE website
o If not a charter, schools must continue to employ
licensed teachers in core content areas.
– Licensure is a requirement for HQT in core areas
Act 1090 (HB 1651) - Licensure Provisions
Professional development:
oClarifies the granting of professional development credit for college
courses and allows school districts to make the decision about
approving those hours (not the department)
Employment / Ethics:
oProhibits a person whose license is suspended or revoked to work as
an employee in a public school
oStudent teachers at a school district are held to the Code of Ethics
and may have sanctions applied to their license when (or if) one is
issued
oAllows certain information concerning ethical violations resulting in
suspension or revocation of a license to be publicly viewed on the
department’s online licensure system
Act 1090 (HB 1651) - Licensure Provisions
Licensure by Reciprocity:
o Technical correction to clarify that the waiver of
assessment to a person applying for reciprocity
for the first-time applies only to the first-time
license. This prevents someone from not testing
if they are adding an area to an existing license
o Removes the requirement for a teacher licensing
by reciprocity with 3 years of experience to pass a
basic skills assessment
Act 1090 (HB 1651) - Licensure Provisions
Nontraditional Licensure:
oAllows the department’s nontraditional program (APPEL) to refuse to
admit someone who has been dismissed from a university teacher
preparation program
oClarifies that a provisional license issued to a teacher in Teach for
America, Arkansas Teacher Corps, etc., will be issued under the rules
for provisional licensure for a nontraditional applicant
oAllows certain licensure applicants to meet the Arkansas history
requirement through a 45-hour ArkansasIDEAS course instead of a
college course. Applies to:
– reciprocity
– nontraditional program
– adding an endorsement to an existing license
Act 1090 (HB 1651) - Licensure Provisions
Certain Expired Licenses:
o Amends an outdated law for renewing a
license obtained before 1988. This will require
content area testing and professional
development if a teacher
– has a license issued before the state required
content area testing
– the license expired for more than one year
– has taught less than 3 years
Act 1121 (SB 744) - ABCTE
American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE)
oGraduates may apply for provisional licensure as a candidate from an
accelerated teaching program, similar to Teach for America (TFA) and
the Arkansas Teacher Corps (UAF).
oUnder agreement with the Department, ABCTE candidates will be
granted a provisional license for up to three (3) years.
oTo receive a standard license in specific licensure areas (identified in a
Memorandum of Understanding with ADE), an ABCTE candidate will
need to:
– have participated in the state’s mentoring program for two (2) years,
– have a proficient or distinguished evaluation by the end of the third
year, and
– be recommended for licensure by their superintendent.
Professionalism and Ethics
Cheryl Reinhart
Director of Professional Licensure Standards Board
Act 1089 (HB 1650) - Background Checks
Background Check Process - Generally:
oSchool districts, charter schools, and education service
cooperatives must initiate the state and federal background
checks through the Arkansas State Police online system –
both state and federal run at the same time.
oAfter July 1, 2016, educational entities are required to use
electronic fingerprinting (“livescan”) as the primary
fingerprinting method. Fingerprint cards will only be accepted
after the livescan fingerprinting is attempted and fails to
produce adequate fingerprints.
Act 1089 (HB 1650) - Background Checks
Background Checks for Licensure:
o Requires preservice teachers to have the same background
checks as licensed educators
o Allows the FBI to maintain fingerprints
o Expunged, sealed, and pardoned records that are over ten
(10) years old, unless the offense involves violence or
abuse, will no longer be disqualifying
o Allows a school district to provisionally employ a teacher
while the teacher is seeking a waiver from the State Board
o Clarifies that an applicant for a lifetime teaching license will
have criminal and child maltreatment background checks
Act 1089 (HB 1650) - Background Checks
Background Checks for Classified Employees:
oAllows an educational entity to grant a waiver for employees
in classified staff positions, such as substitute teachers, who
are contracted through an outside vendor – this was
previously not possible
oAll classified staff positions at school districts, including
those staffed by outside vendors, are required to clear the
background checks for employment
oExpunged, sealed, and pardoned records that are over ten
(10) years old, unless the offense involves violence or abuse,
will no longer be disqualifying
Teaching as a Profession
Professionalism:
Begins with training
Permeates the teacher’s
professional experience
Requires diligent selfmonitoring and learning
Act 1090 (HB 1651) addresses professionalism by:
oRequiring that student teachers in an internship at a school district are held to the Code of
Ethics and may have sanctions applied to their license when (or if) one is issued
oProhibiting a person whose license is suspended or revoked to work as an employee in a
public school.
oAllowing certain information concerning ethical violations resulting in suspension or
revocation of a license to be publicly viewed on the department’s online licensure system.