Licensure Reciprocity: Arkansas

Analysis of Arkansas's policies

Although Arkansas requires documentation that a standardized test was required for the issuance of the out-of-state teaching license, it allows its testing requirements to be waived with three years of teaching experience.

Teachers with current, comparable out-of-state certificates are eligible for Arkansas's standard teaching license. All out-of-state teachers are required to complete a three-hour Arkansas history course if the licensure area is elementary, middle school areas or secondary social studies. The state does not offer teachers a test-out option. 

Transcripts are required for all applicants; however, it is not clear whether the state analyzes transcripts to determine whether a teacher was prepared through a traditional or alternate route or whether additional coursework will be required.

Arkansas is also a participant in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which outlines which other states' certificates will be accepted by the receiving state. This agreement is not a collection of two-way reciprocal acceptances, nor is it a guarantee that all certificates will be accepted by the receiving state, and is therefore not included in this analysis.

The state articulates that all online—or distance learning—courses must be taught by "appropriately licensed or approved" teachers. "The intent of the approval process is to provide flexibility for the approval of teachers of programs originating from outside Arkansas, exceptionally qualified individuals within the state who may not meet licensure requirements, or teachers of courses that do not have an appropriate licensure requirement."

Citation

Rules Governing Educator Licensure http://www.arkansased.org/public/userfiles/HR_and_Educator_Effectiveness/HR_Educator_Licensure/Rules_for_Ed_Licensure_with_Emergency_Licensure_Rules.pdf Rules Governing DIstance Learning http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/rulesRegs/Arkansas%20Register/2012/Feb12Reg/005.15.12-001.pdf

Recommendations for Arkansas

To uphold standards, require that teachers coming from other states meet testing requirements. 

Arkansas takes considerable risk by granting a waiver for its licensing tests to any out-of-state teacher with three years of teaching experience. It should not provide any waivers of its teacher tests unless an applicant can provide evidence of a passing score under its own standards. The negative impact on student learning stemming from a teacher's inadequate subject-matter knowledge is not mitigated by a teacher's having recent teaching experience.

Offer a standard license to certified out-of-state teachers, absent unnecessary requirements. 

Although the state's Arkansas history coursework requirement is reasonable, it should offer out-of-state teachers a test-out option. The state should also consider discontinuing its requirement for the submission of transcripts. Transcript analysis is likely to result in additional coursework requirements, even for traditionally prepared teachers; alternate route teachers, on the other hand, may have to virtually begin anew, repeating some, most or all of a teacher preparation program in Arkansas. Regardless of whether a teacher was prepared through a traditional or alternate route, all certified out-of-state teachers should receive equal treatment.

Require evidence of effective teaching when determining eligibility for full certification. 

Rather than rely on transcripts to assess credentials, Arkansas should instead require that evidence of teacher effectiveness be considered for all out-of-state candidates. Such evidence is especially important for candidates who come from states that make student growth at least a significant factor of a teacher evaluation (see Goal 3-B). 

Ensure that requirements for online teachers are as rigorous as those for in-state teachers. 

Arkansas should ensure that online teachers based in other states are at least equally as qualified as those who teach in the state. However, Arkansas should balance the interests of its students in having qualified online instructors with making certain that these requirements do not create unnecessary obstacles for out-of-state teachers. 

State response to our analysis

Arkansas asserted that transcripts are required for verification of degree level and not analyzed for individual areas of licensure when held on a valid and current out-of-state teaching license.

The state also noted its code section that requires the board to issue a standard five-year license to an individual who 1) furnishes a valid, standard teaching license or its Arkansas equivalent from another state; 2) has been in good standing during the most recent two years of the applicant's teaching experience and 3) has a higher education transcript evidencing at least a baccalaureate degree. 

Arkansas also pointed out that a highly qualified teacher that delivers digital learning courses is not required to be licensed as a teacher or administrator by the state board. 

Last word

The submission of transcripts should be unnecessary for certified out-of-state teachers, unless the state has some reason to suspect that the certifying state routinely licenses teachers who do not have a degree.