April Update 2018

Jennifer Beasley, Office of Teacher Education

On Friday, April 20 the Arkansas Council of Education Deans meeting was held in North Little Rock. Here are the highlights:

The Arkansas Department of Education started the meeting by providing information about programs changes.

• Each program in the state will need to submit changes to admission requirements now that the Praxis Core requirements have changes at the state level. Sharlee Crowson said that if our EPP has the same admission requirements for basic skills, we can submit a cover sheet and rationale for all programs.
• ADE made revisions to remove the elementary education ACEI standards and removed all music and art competencies. No major changes in other subject areas. All program revisions (for example for the new reading and English competencies) will need to start now and the last date for revisions will be spring 2019.
• Need information on the latest forms needed for program changes? Find them HERE

News from Michael Rowland, ADE

• There will be a state review of the new School Leaders Assessment (6990) on Wednesday, April 25.
• A review of the Praxis Computer Science (5652) Assessment will be on Thursday, April 26.
• He is in the middle of finishing up the Novice Teacher and Supervisor surveys. The report should come to EPPs in May.
• We have a new CAEP contact person for our upcoming Fall 2019 site visit. Michael Rowland let us know that we will be contacted by Arianna Bartlett soon so that we can have one point person to help with all questions.

News from the Arkansas Educators Association

The AEA representatives spoke about the current challenges for funding public education and the need for higher education to be a part of this discussion. Susana O'Daniel is willing to speak with any faculty who would like to know more about getting involved in advocacy. For contact information, look HERE.

News from our Deans of Education

We had a lot of discussion at our Deans meeting about the use of basic skills tests (ACT and Praxis Core) with our graduate level teacher licensure programs. The Arkansas Council of Education Deans have asked ADE to submit a request for a waiver for this requirement for graduate level programs. Want to take a look at the letter submitted to ADE? Here it is: CLICK HERE

News from the Office of Teacher Education!

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