ADE Summit 2025

Join us for an insightful presentation on the various licensure flexibility options available to educators in Arkansas. This session will explore the different pathways and exceptions that allow schools to address staffing challenges and ensure that students receive high-quality education, even in hard-to-fill positions.

This session will resolve any confusion regarding mandatory Standard 1 reporting to the PLSB versus mandatory reporting of charges or arrests for disqualifying offenses. The presenters will provide a step-by-step overview of each process.

In this session, you will learn about ADE's Special Education Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program, which aims to combat teacher shortages by developing fully licensed educators with strong ties to Arkansas communities. The apprenticeship combines practical classroom experience with coursework tailored to the specific needs of students with disabilities in Arkansas.

How do you know if a teacher is positively impacting student growth? The Teacher Growth and Trend Data module provides evidence toward teacher and school effectiveness and support place student placement.

During this session, participants will find out about changes to the mentoring manual, including training expectations for experienced mentor teachers and changes regarding new laws.

This presentation will delve into educator preparation and professional development in the code of conduct for professional educators, highlighting the Arkansas Educators Code of Ethics. Attendees will explore real-world scenarios to understand the application of ethical principles in everyday educational settings. This session aims to equip educators with the knowledge and tools to maintain high standards of professional conduct and ethical behavior.

By integrating NIET's Teacher Learning Progression on Curriculum and structured support systems, university partners and EPPs can ensure that new teachers enter classrooms prepared to deliver high-quality instruction from day one. Our research-based approach is designed to increase the effectiveness of early-career teachers, improve student achievement, and strengthen teacher retention rates. With a focus on leveraging HQIM, this partnership enhances the alignment between educator preparation and K-12 classroom expectations, ultimately leading to better educational outcomes.

Beginning in 2026, all ninth graders - including those with disabilities - must receive instruction from conent-licensed teachers to earn credits on the regular pathway to graduation, as outlined in the Inclusive Education Implementation Timeline. Since the Timline's release in 2021, Arkansas has made progress in integrating more students with disabilities into general education settings. Despite this, the shift to linking content-licensed teachers to graduation credits for all students represents a significant change for many school districts. As a result, Districts may have questions or feel uncertain about decision-making for students with disabiltiies. This session will offer guidance on creative staffing strategies to effectively meet student needs. It will also cover key topics such as course codes, teacher licensure, grading, and how these factors influcence graduation pathways.

Participants will share the process for applying, supporting, and completing licensure plans.