1. (a) A teacher teaching in a core academic subject area at an educational entity that has received a legal waiver of licensure shall meet the requirements of an Arkansas Qualified Teacher.

2. (b) Eligibility requirements. To meet Arkansas Qualified Teacher requirements, the educator must have either:

   1. (1) Previously met highly qualified teacher status under the Department of Education’s Rules Governing Highly Qualified Teachers Promulgated Pursuant to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 [repealed]; or

   2. (2) Obtained a bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree and meets one (1) of the following requirements:

      1. (A) The bachelor’s degree or advanced degree is in the content area in which the educator will teach;
      2. (B) The bachelor’s degree or advanced degree contains a minimum of eighteen (18) college credit hours in the content area in which the educator will teach;
      3. (C) The educator has successfully completed a content area assessment approved by the State Board of Education for the content area in which the educator will teach;
      4. (D) The educator is a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certified Teacher for the content area in which the educator will teach; or
      5. (E) The bachelor’s degree or advanced degree is in any major and the educator has documented successful, relevant work experience in the teaching area.

3. (c) For special education, an educator shall hold an Arkansas teaching license in special education or be teaching under an approved Additional Licensure Plan waiver for special education and either:

   1. (1) Meet one (1) other eligibility requirement under subsection (b) of this section; or

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Demonstrate content knowledge in each of the areas he or she teaches using the ARHOUSSE matrix.
      2. (B) See Appendices A – C.

4. (d) For an alternative learning environment, an educator shall hold an Arkansas teaching license, unless waived by the charter for a public charter school, or by an approved school of innovation plan for a school of innovation, or by the State Board of Education for a traditional public school district, and either:

   1. (1) Meet one (1) other eligibility requirement under subsection (b) of this section; or

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Demonstrate content knowledge in each of the areas he or she teaches using the ARHOUSSE matrix.
      2. (B) See Appendices A – C.

5. (e) Educational entity responsibilities.

   1. (1) The educational entity shall determine that the educator meets the eligibility requirements for the content area in which the educator will teach.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) The school district shall:

6. (i) Indicate in eSchool that the educator is an Arkansas Qualified Teacher; and

   1. (ii) Maintain records of the educator’s eligibility and content areas taught.

      1. (B) The records shall be made available for Department of Education review.

7. (f) The ARHOUSSE matrix attached as Appendices A – C to this part will be:

   1. (1) Reviewed after the 2016-2017 school year; and
   2. (2) Revised as necessary to align with the state’s plan filed with the United States Department of Education under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Codification Notes: Every Student Succeeds Act is codified at 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.