In 2008, the State Board of Education adopted guidelines for adding an area of licensure endorsement that will approve teachers with middle level licensure to teach Algebra I at Grade 8. Those guidelines are found at the following URL: http://www.arkansased.org/educators/licensure/adding_licensure.html
Two of the three options for qualification for the endorsement require professional development specifically designed to assist those teachers with meeting the expectations of a secondary Algebra I program and meeting the expectations of the Middle Level Math Praxis exam.
This summer three different workshops are planned and announced for teachers seeking the Algebra I at Grade 8 endorsement.
Harding University – June 21-25 – Interested participants can contact Tim Brister, Mathematics Specialist at Harding University, 501-279-4621 or e-mail tbrister@harding.edu. There is a registration fee of $100 per participant for this session.
Ozarks Unlimited Resources Cooperative – Harrison, AR – July 19, 20, and 21 with two follow-up days during the fall semester that are yet to be determined Interested participants can contact Shane Flud, Mathematics Specialist OUR Cooperative, e-mail sflud@oursc.k12.ar.us .
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith – July 14, 15, and 16 with two follow-up days, also to be determined, during the fall semester. Interested participants can contact Darlynn Cast, Director, Institute for Math and Science Education, University of Arkansas at Fort Smith 479-788-7244 or e-mail dcast@uafortsmith.edu.
The attachment to this memo provides more information about this training and includes a registration form. For direct questions about the endorsement or additional training options contact Dr. Charles D. Watson, Associate Professor of Mathematics, University of Central Arkansas, 501-450-5681 or charlesw@uca.edu.
(If you cannot click the link(s) above, copy and paste it into your browser.)