Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Licensure

Memo Information

Memo Number
LIC-22-001
Memo Date
7/26/2021
Memo Type
Informational
Unit
Educator Effectiveness & Licensure
Regulatory Authority
Response Required
NO
Attention
Federal Programs; Superintendents; Assistant Superintendent; Principals; Technology Coordinators; Test Coordinators; General Business Managers; Teachers; Gifted & Talented Coordinators; Curriculum Coordinators; Bookkeepers; School Counselors; Techstart Coordinators or Contact Name; Equity Coordinators (Disability/Race/Gender/National Origin); Child Nutrition Directors/Managers; Data Stewards (SIS; eSchool; eFinance; TRIAND); District Coordinators (ALE; Homeless; ESOL; SDFS & Foster); Parent Involvement Coordinators/Facilitators; CTE Coordinator (COOPs and regular school districts); Facilities / Maintenance Director

Primary Contact Information

Memo Text

At its July 2021 meeting, the Arkansas State Board of Education adopted the following licensure tests:

Online Teaching K-12 Assessment
Online Teaching (K-12) is an endorsement area added to a standard license by completing graduate-level coursework. The endorsement previously had no licensure test. Team Digital has developed a performance assessment aligned to the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) standards and the DESE Online Teacher Competencies. The evidence-based assessment consists of four major components: planning, designing, communicating, and syllabus. Each component receives a PASS/FAIL designation. All four components must receive a PASS to achieve a passing score on the assessment. The department recommends adopting the PASS/FAIL designation effective immediately.

Japanese (K-12) Endorsement Assessment
Japanese (K-12) is an endorsement area added to a standard license by testing out. For the licensure assessment to add the Japanese (K-12) endorsement to a Standard Arkansas Educator License, the Department recommends adopting the Praxis® Japanese: World Language (5661) with a cut score of 151, effective immediately.

Journalism (7-12) Endorsement Assessment
Journalism (7-12) is an endorsement area added to a standard license by testing out. For the licensure assessment to add the Journalism (7-12) endorsement to a Standard Arkansas Educator License, the Department recommends adopting the Praxis® Journalism (5224) with a cut score of 147, effective immediately.

Instrumental Music (K-12) Assessment
Instrumental Music (K-12) is a first-time licensure area as well as an add-on licensure area. The current Music (K-12) licensure test is the Praxis® Music: Content Knowledge (5113) and is for both Instrumental and Vocal Music licenses. The new Praxis® Music: Instrumental and General Knowledge (5115) would be for instrumental music teachers only. For the Instrumental Music (K-12) licensure assessment, the Department recommends adopting the Praxis® Music: Instrumental and General Knowledge (5115) with a cut score of 145, effective September 1, 2021.

Vocal Music (K-12) Assessment
Vocal Music (K-12) is a first-time licensure area as well as an add-on licensure area. The current Music (K-12) licensure test is the Praxis® Music: Content Knowledge (5113) and is for both Instrumental and Vocal Music licenses. The new Praxis® Music: Vocal and General Knowledge (5116) would be for vocal music teachers only. For the Vocal Music (K-12) licensure assessment, the Department recommends adopting the Praxis® Music: Vocal and General Knowledge (5116) with a cut score of 147, effective September 1, 2021.

For licensure questions, contact the Office of Educator Licensure ade.educatorlicensure@ade.arkansas.gov. For test questions, contact Michael Rowland, Educator Preparation Program Advisor, Michael.Rowland@ade.arkansas.gov or visit the DESE Licensure Assessment web page:

https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/educator-effectiveness/educator-licensure/licensure-assessments

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