Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 25-15-204, all parties should be considered on notice. On August 14, 2000, the Arkansas State Board of Education and the Arkansas Department of Education promulgated emergency amendments to rules and regulations pursuant to the authority of Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-11-105 (Repl. 1999) and 25-15-204 (Supp.1999) to amend the timing requirements on testing. These emergency amendments will immediately allow for qualifications of additional teachers through the provisional, probationary, and non-traditional processes. The State Board directed staff to initiate procedures that will access public input and determine if permanent changes should be considered. These emergency amendments are effective for one hundred and twenty (120) days.
Specifically, the amendment to the timing on testing constraints, responds to the critical shortage of teachers by allowing potential provisional, probationary, and non-traditional teacher candidates to satisfy testing requirements during the first year of employment rather than prior to employment. However, applicants are encouraged to make arrangements to take the required exams as soon as possible. Applicants must pass all required exams before a license can be renewed for the second year.
Any party who wishes to petition for the amendments or repeal of these emergency amendments to rules and regulations should submit the petition to Scott Smith, Staff Attorney, Department of Education, #4 Capitol Mall, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201.
For more information regarding Provisional and Probationary Licensure, contact Ron Tolson, (501) 682-4341. For more information regarding Non-traditional Licensure, contact Donna Zornes at (501) 682-4311.
The rules and regulations are included below as an attachment.