HB 1305 — TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ISSUE A TEACHING LICENSE TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DOES NOT MEET TRADITIONAL OR ALTERNATIVE LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

Bill Text

• HB 1305 View text Current pdf

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill allows individuals who do not meet traditional or alternative teaching licensure requirements to obtain a teaching license under specific conditions.

• Arkansas Code § 6-17-410

  (k)(1) The state board shall issue a license to an individual who does not meet the educational requirements of a traditional license and does not qualify for licensure through other alternative educator preparation programs if the individual has been approved for licensure and hire by a public school district board of directors or a governing body of an open-enrollment public charter school.

  This addition creates a new pathway for individuals to obtain a teaching license without meeting traditional educational requirements.

• Arkansas Code § 6-17-410

  (2) A public school district board of directors or a governing body of an open-enrollment public charter school that approves an individual for licensure and hire under subdivision (k)(1) of this section shall submit a letter to the state board that requests the issuance of a license to the individual.

  This requires school entities to formally request the state board to issue a license for approved individuals.

• Arkansas Code § 6-17-410

  (3) An individual who is issued a license under this subsection (k) shall have one (1) of the following: (A) A bachelor's degree in a subject matter related to the course material that he or she is being hired to teach; (B) An associate degree or trade certification and five (5) years of documented career experience in a subject matter related to the course material that he or she is being hired to teach; or (C) Ten (10) years of career experience in a subject matter related to the course material that he or she is being hired to teach.

  This outlines the qualifications required for individuals to receive a teaching license under the new subsection.

• Arkansas Code § 6-17-410

  (4) An individual shall not be issued a teaching license under this subsection if he or she has: (A) A true report in the Child Maltreatment Central Registry; (B) Pled guilty or nolo contendere to or been found guilty of any of the offenses under subsection (c) of this section by a court in the State of Arkansas or of any similar offense by a court in another state or by a federal court; (C) Failed to apply for and pass a statewide and nationwide criminal records check conducted by the Division of Arkansas State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; or (D) Failed to provide his or her fingerprints for a statewide and nationwide criminal records check as required under § 6-17-417.

  This stipulates disqualifying criteria for individuals seeking a teaching license under the new provisions.

• Arkansas Code § 6-17-410

  (5)(A) A license issued to an individual under this subsection shall be valid for only the duration of his or her employment with the public school district or open-enrollment public charter school that recommended him or her for licensure under subdivision (k)(2) of this section. (B) Upon the conclusion of the individual's employment with the public school district or open-enrollment public charter school that recommended him or her for licensure under subdivision (k)(2) of this section, the individual's license under this subsection (k) shall expire.

  This establishes the validity period and conditions for the expiration of the newly issued teaching licenses.

Action History

1. February 18, 2025

   WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR

2. January 29, 2025

   Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on EDUCATION COMMITTEE- HOUSE

3. January 29, 2025

   Filed

Sponsors

• Jim Dotson · Primary
• Wade Andrews · Primary

Subjects