A.C.A. 24-7-708 establishes a waiver process by which retirees can be hired by a school district to teach in critical academic shortage areas when suitable active employees are not available to fill the certified positions. The legislation requires that the State Board of Education annually declare those critical academic areas.
The law further establishes a waiver procedure if the retiree is hired by a school district in academic distress.
The State Board of Education on June 14, 2004 declared the critical academic areas in which there is a shortage of certified teachers for the 2004-2005 school year.