005.19.04 Ark. Code R. § 008 - ADE 197 - Rules Governing Highly Qualified Teachers Pursuant to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

1.0 REGULATORY AUTHORITY

1.01 These shall be known as the Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing "Highly Qualified" Teachers and promulgated pursuant to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq. (2002).

1.02 These rules are enacted pursuant to the authority of the State Board of Education under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-11-105 and Ark. Code Ann. § 25-15-201 et seq.

2.0 PURPOSE

2.01 The purpose of these rules is to establish definitions and procedures used to designate teachers as highly qualified in the core academic subject areas pursuant to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

3.0 DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of these Rules the following terms shall be defined to mean:

3.01 Act - the "No Child Left Behind" Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq. (2002).

3.02 ARHOUSSE - a survey of criteria used to determine whether a veteran teacher demonstrates competence in the core academic subject area(s) he or she teaches, when required in the definition of a highly qualified teacher.

3.02.1 The ARHOUSSE survey of criteria is hereby incorporated in these rules as referenced in the attached Appendix A.

3.03 Core Academic Subject Areas - English, Reading or Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Language, Social Studies, Arts.

3.04 Early Childhood grade levels - grade K through grade 4.

3.05 Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) - a teacher who holds at least a Bachelor's Degree, holds full state licensure (inclusive of alternative routes) and has demonstrated subject area competence in each of the core academic subjects in which the teacher teaches. When used with respect to a new or veteran Arkansas public early childhood, middle childhood or secondary school teacher means as follows:

3.05.1 For New Teachers (teachers new to the profession)

3.05.1.1 A highly qualified new early childhood teacher is a teacher who possesses or exhibits each of the following:

3.05.1.1.1 Have at least a Bachelor's Degree,

3.05.1.1.2 Hold an Initial or Standard Arkansas teaching license, or be enrolled in, and progressing towards successful completion of the Non-Traditional Licensure Program for early childhood,

3.05.1.1.3 Demonstrate subject area competence by passing the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Education of Young Children Assessment (Praxis II # 021).

3.05.1.2 A highly qualified new middle childhood or secondary teacher is a teacher who possesses or exhibits each of the following:

3.05.1.2.1 Have at least a Bachelor's Degree,

3.05.1.2.2 Hold an Initial or Standard Arkansas teaching license, or be enrolled in, and progressing towards successful completion of the Non-Traditional Licensure Program for middle childhood or secondary.

3.05.1.2.3 Demonstrate subject area competence by:

3.05.1.2.3.1 passing the state licensure ETS Praxis II assessment(s) in the area the teacher teaches, or

3.05.1.2.3.2 having an undergraduate major in the area the teacher teaches, or

3.05.1.2.3.3 having coursework equivalent to an undergraduate major in the area the teacher teaches, or

3.05.1.2.3.4 having a graduate degree in the area the teacher teaches, or

3.05.1.2.3.5 having National Board Certification in the area the teacher teaches.

3.05.2 For Veteran Teachers (teachers not new to the profession)

3.05.2.1 A highly qualified veteran early childhood teacher is a teacher who possesses or exhibits each of the following:

3.05.2.1.1 Have at least a Bachelor's Degree,

3.05.2.1.2 Hold an Initial or Standard Arkansas teaching license,

3.05.2.1.3 Demonstrate subject area competency by:

3.05.2.1.3.1 passing the ETS Education of Young Children Assessment (PRAXIS II - # 021), or

3.05.2.1.3.2 accumulating at least 100 points on ARHOUSSE.

3.05.2.2 A highly qualified veteran middle childhood or secondary teacher is a teacher who possesses or exhibits each of the following:

3.05.2.2.1 Have at least a Bachelor's Degree,

3.05.2.2.2 Hold an Initial or Standard Arkansas teaching license,

3.05.2.2.3 Demonstrate subject area competence by:

3.05.2.2.3.1 passing the state licensure ETS Praxis II assessment(s) in the area the teacher teaches, or

3.05.2.2.3.2 having an undergraduate major in the area the teacher teaches, or

3.05.2.2.3.3 having coursework equivalent to an undergraduate major in the area the teacher teaches, or

3.05.2.2.3.4 having a graduate degree in the area the teacher teaches, or

3.05.2.2.3.5 having National Board Certification in the area the teacher teaches, or

3.05.2.2.3.6 accumulating at least 100 points on ARHOUSSE.

3.06 Middle Childhood grade levels - grades 5 through 8.

3.07 New Teacher (a teacher new to the profession) - a licensed teacher employed by an Arkansas public school after the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year, who was not previously employed as a licensed teacher in any public or private school.

3.08 Non-Traditional Licensure Program - the instructional program administered by the Arkansas Department of Education, whose participants hold a minimum of a baccalaureate degree (and passed the appropriate state-mandated assessments) and are allowed to teach in an Arkansas school via a Non-Traditional license. Participants are engaged with intensive supervision and mentoring while receiving high-quality, sustained, intensive classroom-focused professional development.

3.09 Secondary grade levels - grades 7 through 12.

3.10 Title I District, School or Program - A district, school or program that receives funds under Title I, Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

3.11 Veteran Teacher (a teacher not new to the profession) - a licensed teacher who was previously employed as a licensed teacher in any public or private school before the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year.

4.0 HIGHLY QUALIFIED REQUIREMENTS

4.01 By the end of the '05-'06 school year, all teachers teaching in core academic subject area(s) must be highly qualified as defined in these rules. In addition, all newly hired teachers who teach in core academic subject area(s) in Title I schools or programs must be highly qualified on the date of hire.

4.02 By the end of the '05-'06 school year, all classes in the core academic subject areas shall be taught by a highly qualified teacher as defined in these rules.

4.03 By the end of the '05-'06 school year all early childhood classes shall be taught by a highly qualified early childhood teacher as defined in these rules.

4.04 By the end of the '05-'06 school year all middle childhood classes in the core academic subject areas shall be taught by a highly qualified middle childhood teacher as defined in these rules.

4.05 By the end of the '05-'06 school year all secondary classes in the core academic subject areas shall be taught by a highly qualified secondary teacher as defined in these rules.

5.0 HIGHLY QUALIFIED REPORTING

5.01 By October 15 of each school year all public charter schools and school districts shall report in their Cycle 2 report the number and percentage of classes in the core academic subject areas being taught by teachers meeting the definition of a highly qualified teacher as defined in this rule, and required by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE).

5.02 The ADE shall review the data required in 5.01. To the extent a school district has not met the requirements of these rules, the ADE will take appropriate action to work with that district as required under the Act.

5.03 Schools and districts shall give notice to parents and care givers regarding teacher quality and highly qualified teachers as required by the Act.

Appendix A

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Notes

005.19.04 Ark. Code R. § 008

11/9/2004