The Arkansas Department of Education will be continuing the Administrative Policy of approving those teachers licensed in regular Early Childhood P-4 and Early Childhood Special Education P-4, to be employed at the fifth and sixth grade levels through the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 school years.
Current data continues to suggest that the number of teachers being licensed at the Middle Childhood 4-8 levels is not sufficient to meet staffing needs at the fifth and sixth grade levels at this time.
Since this policy is not intended to be a permanent solution to the staffing issues at the fifth and sixth grade levels, the approval to teach at these levels will come directly through Standards Assurance and will not be reflected on the current teaching license.