Secondary Teacher Preparation: Arkansas

Analysis of Arkansas's policies

Arkansas requires that its secondary teacher candidates pass a Praxis II content test to teach any core secondary subjects. Unfortunately, Arkansas permits a significant loophole to this important policy by allowing both general science and general social studies licenses, without requiring subject-matter testing for each subject area within these disciplines (see Goals 1-G and 1-H).

Further, to add an additional field to either the three-year initial or standard secondary license, teachers must also pass a Praxis II content test. In addition, those teachers adding secondary social studies must also complete a three-hour course in Arkansas history. However, as stated above, Arkansas cannot guarantee content knowledge in each specific subject for those secondary teachers who add the combination science or general social studies endorsements. 

Citation

Testing Requirements http://arkansased.org/educators/pdf/licensure/praxis_series_testing_111010.pdf Adding an Area of Licensure to an Existing Arkansas License http://www.ade.az.gov/certification/requirements/TeachingCerts/RequirementsforSecondaryCertificate.pdf

Recommendations for Arkansas

Require subject-matter testing for all secondary teacher candidates.
Arkansas wisely requires subject-matter tests for most secondary teachers but should address any loopholes that undermine this policy (see Goals 1-G and 1-H). This applies to the addition of endorsements as well.

State response to our analysis

Arkansas recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.