The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is offering a fall instructional cycle for the 2008 Non-Traditional Licensure Program (NTLP). Information about the NTLP can be found at www.TeachArkansas.org. This fall cohort is being offered predominantly to meet school districts’ needs in critical academic shortage areas as approved by the Arkansas State Board of Education (ASBE). Initial Instructional Modules will be held during the weeks of September 8-12, 2008, September 22-26, 2008, and October 6-10, 2008.
Due to program capacity, this cohort is limited to 30 candidates on a priority-driven first-come, first-served basis. Candidates must have been offered a teaching position in an Arkansas public school district in one of the secondary content areas. Middle Childhood and Early Childhood will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Eligible candidates must:
a) Submit an NTLP application. An application is provided as an attachment to this memo. Applications are also available at the Office of Teacher Quality or by email or phone request. Applications are to be submitted with all other documentation.
b) Submit original transcripts from all universities attended, documenting a bachelor’s degree or higher (with an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher, or at least 2.75 on the last 60 hours of coursework attempted).
c) Submit original passing score reports for the Praxis I exam or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) if the candidate has a Master’s Degree. For the candidates needing the Praxis I exam, it is recommended that the Praxis I, Pre Professional Skills Test (PPST, Reading, Writing and Math) be taken immediately at one of the many approved computer-based testing sites since this assessment is available on demand.
d) Submit original passing score reports for the Praxis II test(s) in the content area of licensure. Candidates need to contact Educational Testing Services (ETS) at 1-800-772-9476 to register for the September 13, 2008, testing date. If needed, each testing site can advise candidates about availability of emergency testing. All tests must be completed no later than September 13, 2008. Candidates may register for the Praxis exams online at www.ets.org/praxis/prxar.html.
e) Complete a state required criminal background check with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) for both the State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) clearance, then submit a copy of the completed fingerprint card with the application documentation.
f) Submit the $1,200 annual program fee by money order or cashier’s check (or a check on a school district account) payable to ADE-NTLP. (Personal checks are not acceptable.)
g) Submit an Employment Eligibility Form (available from NTLP) completed by the appropriate school administrator from the hiring school district.
All documentation is to be sent to NTLP, Arkansas Department of Education, 501 Woodlane, Suite 220-C, Little Rock, AR 72201.
Dates of Instructional Modules are September 8-12, 2008, September 22-26, 2008, and October 6-10, 2008. The site location is Southeast Arkansas Educational Co-op, Monticello (8:30 am to 4:00 pm daily). Attendance is mandatory for all Instructional Modules.
Subsequent instruction for program completion (October 2008 through May 2010):
a) All participants who successfully complete the initial phase of instruction shall attend the Saturday module to be held at North Little Rock High School, East Campus on Saturday, October 11, 2008, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. In November 2008, teachers will be assigned to the regional instructional site of choice for completion of the program. (This includes 2008-2009 monthly Saturdays, three weeks in the summer of 2009, and seven Saturdays during the 2009-2010 school year.)
b) Regional site locations are:
Van Buren School District, Van Buren
Southwest Arkansas Educational Cooperative, Hope
Southeast Arkansas Educational Cooperative, Monticello
North Little Rock, Maumelle Middle School
Northwest Arkansas Community College, Bentonville
Mid-South Community College, West Memphis
University of Central Arkansas, Conway
Nettleton School District, Jonesboro
Harrison School District, Harrison
The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is providing this cohort of Non-Traditional Licensure Program to help meet the needs of school districts having difficulty filling shortage area teaching positions this fall. In addition school districts should be aware that over one hundred (100) teachers presently enrolled in the NTLP which began summer 2008, have not yet found teaching positions. The Teacher Recruitment Office and NTLP are willing to offer assistance to school districts in interviewing these teachers as well.
Questions should be forwarded to Ms. Patti Froom at the address above or at 501-682-5535.