According to the Rules Governing the Right to Read Act and Ark. Code Ann. §6-17-429:

By the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, all teachers employed in any of the following teaching positions shall demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction:

• Elementary school teachers in grades kindergarten through six (K-6), teaching math, science, social studies, or English language arts;
• K-12 Special education teachers;
• English Language Learners teachers in grades kindergarten through six (K-6);
• Reading specialists.

All other educators shall demonstrate awareness in knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction.

There are currently more than 20 pathways to proficiency and 6 pathways to awareness, which can be found on the Prescribed Pathway Credentials web page of the DESE website. In cycle 2 and cycle 6, Certified Assessors may designate certified staff for Awareness or Proficiency based on evidence. A Certified Assessor is a licensed educator that has completed the appropriate Science of Reading training, and who, in the normal scope of his or her duties, is tasked with observing teachers and required to conduct evaluation of personnel. 

Certified Assessor Requirements:

• Must successfully complete a Phase I of a prescribed pathway for proficiency (RISEArkansas.org)
• Must successfully complete Science of Reading (S0R) Assessor Training (2 day) 

There is one code for Awareness and five different codes for Proficiency with a total of six codes. A description and how each code should be reported in cycles 2 and 6 in eFinance is indicated below: 

Science of Reading Codes in e-Finance:

Awareness

SR01

The code SR01 is used for certified staff members who only need an awareness credential.  This code should only be entered into eFinance once teachers complete a pathway to awareness.  For certified staff members who are still working on the completion of an awareness pathway, this should remain blank in eFinance. 

Proficiency

The deadline for demonstrating proficiency is the beginning of the 2023-24 school year. Certified staff members who need a proficiency credential will be coded in eFinance once they complete phase 1 and phase 2 of a proficiency pathway.  For certified staff members who are still working on the completion of a proficiency pathway, this should remain blank in eFinance. The blanks will create validated warnings, but these are not errors.

The following codes are for proficiency; the code used should be selected based on the pathway by which a teacher reached phase 2 for proficiency.   

SR02

Passing the Foundations of Reading test can count as either Phase 1 or Phase 2 toward proficiency, but not both.  The code SR02 is only for teachers who are using a passing score on the Foundations of Reading test as the pathway by which they reach phase 2.

Teachers who are using a passing score on the Foundations of Reading test as the pathway by which they reach phase 1 will need to reach phase 2 of proficiency by being designated as proficient by a certified assessor.  More information about this can be found in the section for SR03.  

SR03

The code SR03 is used for certified staff members who reach phase 2 through being designated as proficient by a certified assessor. A proficient designation may be given when the assessor has collected sufficient evidence through observation and interviews to determine that the teacher is proficient in the knowledge and practices of the science of reading. When the code SR03 is entered into eFinance for a certified staff member, the assessor’s State ID (Triand number) will be entered as the person who designated the staff member as proficient.  If the entry of the assessor’s State ID/Triand number results in an error code, this means that the steps needed to be identified as a certified assessor have not yet been completed. 

SR04 

The code SR04 is for teachers who graduated from an Arkansas university after 2021.

SR05 

The code SR05 gives educators one year to complete the requirements of proficiency.  This one year may be needed to complete the requirements of proficiency for teachers who move in from another state, are new to an area of licensure, or those who transition from a teaching position that only required awareness to one that requires proficiency. Because the deadline for demonstrating proficiency is the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, the code SR05 should not yet be used.  

SR06 

The code SR06 will be used for K-2 or 3-6 RISE trainers, those with CALT or CALP Certification or those who completed the Apple Group Dyslexia Therapist Course.