Assessment & Alignment
Arkansas State Review
The 妻友社区 School of Education is a part of the newly developed Arkansas State Review that begins spring 2024 across the state. The Arkansas State Review for EPPs was designed to elevate the key pieces of data and the program experiences that align with our vision for high-quality preparation of teachers that are ready to meet the needs of Arkansas students on day one. The organization and focus of the overarching framework include three core standards with aligned indicators and criteria. The Arkansas State Review standards are: 1. Candidate Recruitment and Completion 2. Preparing Candidates Effectively 3. Meeting Workforce Needs.
The Arkansas State Review for EPPs sets a shared vision and bar for high-quality educator preparation in our state while supporting a process of continuous improvement to ensure all new teacher candidates prepared through those programs are ready to meet the needs of Arkansas students on day one.
Act 1063 of 2017, the Right to Read Act, states: 鈥淏eginning no later than the 2022-2023 school year, each state-approved educator preparation program shall post on its website information describing its program to prepare teachers to teach reading using scientific reading instruction aligned with but not limited to the content measured by the stand-alone reading assessment adopted by the State Board of Education under 搂 6-17-402.鈥�
Candidates enrolled in Elementary Education K-6 and Special Education K-12 programs must complete coursework and pass the Foundations of Reading test to be considered proficient in scientific reading instruction to obtain a license.
Candidates enrolled in all other licensure area programs must complete the coursework to be considered awareness level in scientific reading instruction to obtain a license.
In 2019 the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education approved the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith pathways to meet this requirement. The pathways are aligned to the appropriate or
lists approved courses/modules for all approved licensure programs in Arkansas.
Beginning in 2024, EPPs will additionally undergo a Science of Reading coursework audit that will sit within the structure of the Arkansas State Review for EPPs. The addition of this audit will accelerate the state鈥檚 efforts to ensure educators completing their training and certification are also prepared to teach and develop literacy skills for all Arkansas students on day one. The approach will align to and build upon the state executive order to prioritize literacy, empowerment, accountability, readiness, networking, and school safety (LEARNS). The Science of Reading Audit will be conducted alongside the state review for all 26 state-approved EPP programs in Arkansas that offer K-6 and special education certification pathways. The audit will focus on Science of Reading proficiency and awareness requirements as they relate to the preparation of Arkansas teacher candidates. All EPPs will receive comprehensive data reports aligned to the indicators in Standard 1 and Standard 3 one time per year.
Historical CAEP Annual Reports
Title II Reports