It is imperative that school districts be responsive to the federal regulations under NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB) with regard to Highly Qualified Teachers. Therefore, all Waivers of Earnings Limitations requests beginning July 2006 must also address the Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) status of the teaching assignment and the teacher.
Effective immediately, school districts requesting Waivers of Earning Limitations to employ retired teachers must include the following documents with the letter of request:
1.) Evidence that the teacher is licensed and employed to teach in one of the critical academic licensure shortage areas determined annually by the State Board of Education,
2.) Evidence that the teacher is a Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) in the core academic areas assigned to teach as required by No Child Left Behind. The core academic areas which require a Highly Qualified Teacher are: English, social studies, mathematics, sciences, foreign languages, art, music, elementary (K-6), early childhood (P-4), middle level (4-8) and reading/language arts. (School districts must submit a copy of the appropriate HQT forms with the request. Veteran teachers may need to use the ARHOUSSE form.) and
3.) Evidence of efforts to employe non-retirees (e.g. newspaper or other advertisements).
Request letters received by the Department without the above documents will not be processed or forwarded to the Arkansas Retirement System for approval until the Department has such documentation.
Questions may be directed to Ms. Mary Huie in the office of Human Resources/Licensure at 501-682-4210.