What are the current requirements for renewing an AR Teaching License?
Teachers seeking to renew an Arkansas Teaching License will be required to have 36 professional development hours per year.
Will ANSAA schools be required to have 36 hours of professional development per year?
ANSAA Standard 2.20 refers to in-service / professional development but it does not state a required number of hours. Some schools may want to add more in-service days to their yearly calendars to help teachers meet the requirements for renewing an Arkansas Teaching Licenses (36 professional development hours per year); again this will be left to individual ANSAA schools.
How will professional development hours be tracked in the nonpublic schools?
Check with the head of the school on the method that will be used to verify the hours within in your school system. Schools are responsible for monitoring and verifying the completion of professional development hours. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the teacher.
What areas will the state accept as professional development hours?
According to the Arkansas Department of Education, professional development hours are a set of coordinated planned learning activities for educators that meet the following criteria: “improves the knowledge, skills, and effectiveness of teachers; improves the knowledge and skills of administrators and paraprofessionals concerning effective instructional strategies, methods, and skills; leads to improved student academic achievement; and is research-based and standards-based.”
Any of the following activities may be counted if they relate to the goals of the school: conferences, workshops, institutes, mentoring, peer coaching, study groups, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification, distance and online learning, internships, state/district/school programs, action research, individual-guided and approved college/university course work.
Can classroom preparation for a new school year “count” for professional development hours?
Yes. “An educator may earn up to twelve (12) hours of professional development credit approved by the school or school district, which may be applied toward the professional development requirement for the time period at the beginning of each school year that is used to plan and prepare curriculum or develop other instructional material.”
How many professional development hours can be counted as college/university course work?
“Five (5) hours of credit for professional development shall be given for each one (1) hour of college credit for a graduate-level course. Up to fifteen (15) hours may be credited to the professional development requirements for licensure.”
What focus areas are accepted for professional development?
The following areas are accepted for professional development:
Do professional development requirements different for classroom teachers and school administrators?
All administrators need professional development hours in data disaggregating, instructional leadership, and fiscal management.
Do classroom teachers have specific training that must be met for certification?
Each teacher who renews their state license shall be required to have training in the specific subject areas outlined below. These hours may be included in the 36 hours required for professional development. A school official will be asked to verify 2 hours of training in each of the following categories for renewal: mandated reporter, mental health awareness, teen suicide awareness, and bullying prevention.
Science of Reading -- The Right to Read Act (1063) states: “By the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year: A) All teachers employed in a teaching position that requires an elementary education (K-6) license or special education (K-12) license shall demonstrate proficiency in knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction; and B) All other teachers shall demonstrate awareness in knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction.” Here is a link to options to meet this requirement.
Teachers seeking to renew an Arkansas Teaching License will be required to have 36 professional development hours per year.
Will ANSAA schools be required to have 36 hours of professional development per year?
ANSAA Standard 2.20 refers to in-service / professional development but it does not state a required number of hours. Some schools may want to add more in-service days to their yearly calendars to help teachers meet the requirements for renewing an Arkansas Teaching Licenses (36 professional development hours per year); again this will be left to individual ANSAA schools.
How will professional development hours be tracked in the nonpublic schools?
Check with the head of the school on the method that will be used to verify the hours within in your school system. Schools are responsible for monitoring and verifying the completion of professional development hours. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with the teacher.
What areas will the state accept as professional development hours?
According to the Arkansas Department of Education, professional development hours are a set of coordinated planned learning activities for educators that meet the following criteria: “improves the knowledge, skills, and effectiveness of teachers; improves the knowledge and skills of administrators and paraprofessionals concerning effective instructional strategies, methods, and skills; leads to improved student academic achievement; and is research-based and standards-based.”
Any of the following activities may be counted if they relate to the goals of the school: conferences, workshops, institutes, mentoring, peer coaching, study groups, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification, distance and online learning, internships, state/district/school programs, action research, individual-guided and approved college/university course work.
Can classroom preparation for a new school year “count” for professional development hours?
Yes. “An educator may earn up to twelve (12) hours of professional development credit approved by the school or school district, which may be applied toward the professional development requirement for the time period at the beginning of each school year that is used to plan and prepare curriculum or develop other instructional material.”
How many professional development hours can be counted as college/university course work?
“Five (5) hours of credit for professional development shall be given for each one (1) hour of college credit for a graduate-level course. Up to fifteen (15) hours may be credited to the professional development requirements for licensure.”
What focus areas are accepted for professional development?
The following areas are accepted for professional development:
- content (K-12)
- instructional strategies
- student assessment / data-driven decision making
- advocacy/leadership/fiscal management
- systemic change process
- standards, frameworks, and curriculum alignment
- supervision
- mentoring/peer coaching
- next generation learning/integrated technology
- principles of learning/developmental stages/diverse learners
- cognitive research
- family and community engagement / academic planning
- collaborative learning community
- student health and wellness (may include antibullying policies, appropriate training CPR & AED)
- the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators
Do professional development requirements different for classroom teachers and school administrators?
All administrators need professional development hours in data disaggregating, instructional leadership, and fiscal management.
Do classroom teachers have specific training that must be met for certification?
Each teacher who renews their state license shall be required to have training in the specific subject areas outlined below. These hours may be included in the 36 hours required for professional development. A school official will be asked to verify 2 hours of training in each of the following categories for renewal: mandated reporter, mental health awareness, teen suicide awareness, and bullying prevention.
- Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year and every fifth year thereafter, an educator shall be required to earn the professional development on Mental Health Awareness and Teen Suicide Awareness and Prevention
- Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, and every fifth year thereafter, an educator shall be required to earn professional development in Bully Prevention
- Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, and every fifth year thereafter, an educator shall be required to earn the professional development for Child Maltreatment Mandated Reporters
- The professional development in human trafficking prevention will be offered annually.
Science of Reading -- The Right to Read Act (1063) states: “By the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year: A) All teachers employed in a teaching position that requires an elementary education (K-6) license or special education (K-12) license shall demonstrate proficiency in knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction; and B) All other teachers shall demonstrate awareness in knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction.” Here is a link to options to meet this requirement.
