The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is offering an additional cycle (Fall Instructional Modules) for the two-year Non-Traditional Licensure Program (NTLP). This cohort is predominantly to meet school districts’ needs in critical academic shortage areas as identified by the State Board of Education. The Fall-2006 NTLP will consist of three weeks of instructional modules followed by monthly Saturday sessions to complete the first year; then three weeks of training during Summer-2007 followed by monthly Saturday sessions during the 2007-2008 school year. Fall 2006 dates are listed below. School District Administrators wishing to refer teachers to this program should send a letter to Barbara Culpepper at NTLP, Arkansas Department of Education, 501 Woodlane (Suite 220-C), Little Rock, AR 72201 or email Ms. Culpepper at: (Barbara.Culpepper@arkansas.gov)
1. To apply a candidate must:
a) Submit a letter from the school administrator referring the teacher candidate,
b) Submit original transcripts from all universities attended, documenting a bachelor’s degree or higher,
c) Submit original passing score reports for the Praxis I exams (or the Graduate Record Exam if the candidate has a Master’s Degree). It is recommended that the Praxis I Basic Skills Assessments be taken immediately at any approved computer-based testing site. This assessment is available on demand.
d) Submit original passing score reports for the appropriate Praxis II content test(s) in the area of licensure. Candidates must contact Educational Testing Services (ETS) to register stand-by for the September 14, 2006, test date. Each testing site can advise candidates about the availability of standby status. All tests must be completed by September 14, 2006. Candidates may register for the Praxis exams online at www.ets.org/praxis/prxar.html
e) Complete a state required non-criminal background check with the Arkansas State Police and submit a copy of the completed fingerprint card with the application documentation,
f) Submit the first of two annual $1,200 program fees by money order or cashier’s check payable to ADE-NTLP. (Personal checks are not acceptable.)
g) Submit an application.
Applications for the NTLP are available at the following webpages: http://arkedu.state.ar.us/teachers/pdf/NTL_application013106.pdf
and can be printed, completed and mailed with other required documentation.
2. Due to program capacity, this two-year program of instruction will be limited to thirty (30) candidates on a priority-driven first-come, first-served basis. Candidates will only be accepted if a teaching position in the following critical academic shortage areas has been offered by a school district
a) Art, grades P-12
b) Physical/Earth Science, grades 7-12
c) Life/Earth Science, grades 7-12
d) Secondary Math, grades 7-12
e) Foreign Language, any language or level
Middle Childhood will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Early Childhood will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
3. Candidates must submit an Employment Eligibility Form, which may be obtained from the Non-Tradtional Licensure office. This form is to be completed by the appropriate Arkansas public school administrator of the hiring school district.
4. Fall instruction dates are September 18-22, October 9-13, October 16-20, 2006.
a) Site location: Southeast Arkansas Educational Cooperative, 1022 Scoggin Drive, Monticello, AR
b) Time: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm daily.
c) Attendance is mandatory for all Instructional Modules.
5. Subsequent instruction for first-year completion (November, 2006 – May, 2007)
a) November, 2006: following the successful completion of the three weeks of modules the teachers will be assigned to their choice of an instructional site for completion of the program (monthly Saturdays, three weeks in the Summer of 2007, and seven monthly Saturdays in 2007-2008).
b) Regional site locations are:
Van Buren School District, Van Buren
Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville
University of Central Arkansas, Conway
Pulaski Technical Institute, North Little Rock
Southwest Arkansas Educational Cooperative, Hope
Southeast Arkansas Educational Cooperative, Monticello
Jonesboro School District, Jonesboro
Mid-South Community College, West Memphis
Again, the Arkansas Department of Education is offering this cohort of the Non-Traditional Licensure program to help meet the needs of school districts that are having difficulty filling shortage area teaching positions this fall.
Note: There are approximately two-hundred teachers that were enrolled in the 2006 NTL summer cohort still looking for teaching positions. The NTL Office and the Teacher Recruitment Office may be able to offer assistance to school districts with these teachers as well. Questions should be forwarded to Barbara Culpepper at the NTL office, or Barbara.Culpepper@arkansas.gov, or at (501) 682-5535.