The Office of Professional Licensure will be automatically renewing the teaching licenses of teachers whose licenses will be expiring December 31, 2006.
Automatic renewal will occur only if the teacher:
1) Holds a standard teaching license that expires December 31, 2006.
2) Was employed by a public school or educational co-op for the 2005-2006 school year.
3) Has successfully completed at least one background check by the State Police and FBI. Teachers that have not completed a background check must do so and have the results reported to Arkansas Department of Education office by September 1, 2006.
4) Has completed the required 60 hours of professional development for the 2005-2006 school year.
Licensed teachers that were employed by educational co-ops for the 2005-2006 school year, must have been entered into the Arkansas Public School Computer Network (APSCN) data base as employees of the co-op, just like teachers from the public schools, in order to be automatically renewed. All queries regarding employment for the 2005-2006 school year, will be made from the APSCN data base.
Only teachers not identified in the query for teachers or have not met all requirements listed above, will be required to submit an application for renewal with verification of experience, professional development and criminal background check requirements to the Professional Licensure Unit.
APSCN has developed a professional development reporting tool that has been added to the Finance Plus GUI (see the June 23, 2006, COM-06-109). This program will allow school districts/educational co-ops to report the professional development hours for the 2005-2006 school year. School districts/educational co-ops must complete this report by September 1, 2006. The reporting date has been moved back from the September 10, 2006, date that was quoted in the June 23, 2006, COM-06-109.
School districts/educational co-ops may access a listing of all teachers whose licenses will be expiring December 31, 2006, through the Arkansas Department of Education Statewide Information FTP Site at the web address of ftp://165.29.215.34. Questions regarding information provided at this website may be directed to Mrs. Clara Toney in the Professional Licensure Unit at 501-683-3127.
The Professional Licensure Unit is expecting to have the automatic renewals completed and ready for mailout to the school districts/education co-ops by November 2006.
Please address all questions regarding the automatic renewal process to Ron Tolson at 501-683-3126, or by e-mail:rtolson@arkedu.k12.ar.us.