For the purposes of this part:

1. (1) “Accredited teacher preparation program” means an educator preparation program that is:

   1. (A) Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation;

   2. (B) Accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the:

      1. (i) United States Department of Education; or
      2. (ii) Council for Higher Education Accreditation; or
   3. (C) Approved by the licensing authority of a state government;

2. (2)

   1. (A) “Advisory committee” means the ten (10) member team of:

      1. (i) Three (3) National Board Certified Teachers;
      2. (ii) Three (3) National Board facilitators; and
      3. (iii) Four (4) educational administration or business representatives.
   2. (B) One (1) of the ten (10) members may be a Division of Elementary and Secondary Education staff member.

   3. (C) The advisory committee:

      1. (i) Advises the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education on policy issues;
      2. (ii) Assists in the support system; and
      3. (iii) Recommends criteria for the selection of candidates when all candidates cannot be funded.
   4. (D) Criteria shall be recommended by the advisory committee in accordance with law for review and approval by the State Board of Education;

3. (3) “Classroom setting” for the purpose of eligibility for:

   1. (A) NBPTS candidacy funding, means a full-time assignment to a setting in a specific Arkansas public school building or buildings in which a teacher works directly with a student or students; and

   2. (B) An incentive bonus, means a full-time assignment to a setting in a school building or buildings or other instructional settings where an NBCT is directly involved in the instructional process by teaching children by:

      1. (i) Facilitating the instructional process through work with building teachers in classrooms; or
      2. (ii) Serving in the role of building administrator or assistant building administrator;

4. (4) “Classroom teacher” means a teacher who is:

   1. (A) Required to hold a standard teaching license from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education; and

   2. (B) Engaged directly in instruction with students in a classroom setting for more than seventy percent (70%) of the individual’s contracted time, with that seventy percent (70%) allowed to include:

      1. (i) Employment by an educational service cooperative when the teacher provides direct student services for a collaborative of school districts in public school buildings and other instructional settings throughout the cooperative area; and

      2. (ii) Instructional positions such as:

         1. (a) (a) Library/media specialist;
         2. (b) (b) School guidance counselor;
      3. (c) (c) Literacy specialist;

      4. (d) (d) Math specialist;

         1. (e) (e) Dyslexia specialist; or
         2. (f) (f) Others for whom NBPTS certificates specifically exist and who meet the definition of classroom teacher;
5. (5) “Division” means the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education of the Department of Education;
6. (6) “High-poverty charter school” means an Arkansas open-enrollment public charter school in which seventy percent (70%) or greater of the previous school year’s enrolled students are national school lunch students as defined in Arkansas Code § 6-20-2303;
7. (7) “High-poverty district” means an Arkansas public school district in which seventy percent (70%) or greater of the previous school year’s enrolled students are national school lunch students as defined in Arkansas Code § 6-20-2303;
8. (8) “High-poverty school” means an Arkansas public school in which seventy percent (70%) or greater of the previous school year’s enrolled students are national school lunch students as defined in Arkansas Code § 6-20-2303;
9. (9) “In the process of initial certification” means that the individual has completed registration for first-time candidacy, including payment of the NBPTS registration fee;

10. (10) “Instructional facilitator” means an individual holding a valid Arkansas teacher’s license who facilitates continuous improvement in classroom instruction by:

    1. (A) Providing instructional and professional learning support to teachers for research-based instruction; and
    2. (B) Demonstrating the alignment of instruction with curriculum standards and assessment tools;

11. (11)

    1. (A) “Instructional leader” means a building-level administrator who is responsible for evaluating teachers or instructional staff.
    2. (B) It shall include without limitation a building-level administrator who is an evaluator as defined in Arkansas Code § 6-17-2803;

12. (12) “National Board for Professional Teaching Standards” means the independent board that certifies teachers who meet advanced standards and certifications by effectively enhancing student learning and demonstrating the high level of knowledge and skills, dispositions, and commitments reflected in the following five (5) core propositions:

    1. (A) Teachers are committed to students and their learning;
    2. (B) Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students;
    3. (C) Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning;
    4. (D) Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience; and
    5. (E) Teachers are members of learning communities;
13. (13) “NBCT” means National Board Certified Teacher;
14. (14) “NBPTS candidacy” means an applicant’s participation in the NBPTS program for becoming a certified teacher under this part;

15. (15) “Public school” means:

    1. (A) A school operated by a public school district; or
    2. (B) An open-enrollment public charter school as defined in Arkansas Code § 6-23-103; and
16. (16) “State board” means the State Board of Education.

Codification Notes: "NBPTS" means the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.