Arkansas Professional Pathway to Educator Licensure

*formerly known as Non-Traditional Licensure

General Information

The Arkansas Professional Pathway to Educator Licensure (APPEL), formerly known as ADE Non-Traditional Licensure, prepares eligible college graduates to be teachers in Arkansas public schools. APPEL participants teach, with a provisional license, in an Arkansas classroom while completing requirements to receive a Standard Arkansas teaching license. Participants are placed on the regular teacher salary scale and receive regular teacher benefits. Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• have a Bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher
• pass specific required tests based on licensure area
• clear criminal background checks

Individuals who have completed a teacher preparation program that includes student teaching are not eligible for the APPEL (Non Traditional) Program.

Announcements

• Beginning with the 2013-14 program year, the APPEL Program will no longer accept applications for Early Childhood P-4 or Elementary K-6 candidates, even if the applicant has a job offer. This applies to both the regular June and the late July group. Individuals interested in teaching P-4 or K-6 should investigate either a Master of Arts in Teaching program or a traditional teacher preparation program through a college/university.

• Beginning in June, 2012, all applicants MUST have access a computer or digital device (other than a Smartphone) that connects to the Internet in order to complete course requirements.

Program Description

Participants must complete two years of preparation in a three year period. The two-year APPEL program includes:

• Instructional Modules(a blended-learning model with face to face instruction and online components)
  
  • Fifteen days in the summer and monthly Saturdays for two years.
  • Summer modules for fifteen days are offered Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • For Year One:
      • Summer Modules are offered in June.
        
      • The first ten days of instruction are conducted at the regional site closest to the applicant’s address.
      • The final five days are held in a central location. Participants are expected to stay overnight for these instructional dates. Lodging arrangements must be made in advance. Participants are responsible for making all arrangements and costs associated with lodging.
    • For Year Two:
      
      • Summer Modules are offered in June. In July, there is one designated site in Central Arkansas for Year Two modules.
      • The first ten days of instruction are conducted at the regional site where the participant was assigned for year one.
      • The final five days are held in a central location. Participants are expected to stay overnight for these instructional dates. Lodging arrangements must be made in advance. Participants are responsible for making all arrangements and costs associated with lodging.
  • Attendance at all modules is mandatory and takes precedence over all other events, including those sponsored by the school or district.
• Mentoring Support
  
  • A Pathwise® certified mentor is assigned to the APPEL teacher (both years) to provide support towards the mastery of teaching skills.
• Assessments
  
  • Formative and Summative assessments, assignments and projects for all Instructional Modules
• Appropriate employment as a classroom teacher
  
  • Teacher-of-record in an Arkansas public school or a regionally/nationally accredited private school earning a full teacher salary and benefits.
  • Candidate is responsible for finding his/her own position. The APPEL program does not place teachers.
• National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) TAKE ONE!
  
  • This includes reflections on the practice of teaching

Program Fees

The APPEL program fee is $1,200 per year (paid in full in each year) which covers instruction, books, lunches and materials.

Application

Applications are accepted between February 20, 2013 and May 24, 2013 for both first and second year candidates. For questions regarding the application process please email:.

Ann Crosser - APPEL Program Advisor    ann.crosser@arkansas.gov

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Before You Apply

Prior to application, candidates should review all requirements, make certain all requirements are met and ensure that all documentation is available.  Applicants should then:

• Apply to APPEL via online application
• Mail all appropriate documentation (at one time) to the APPEL office

Entry Requirements

APPEL applicants must meet the following minimum criteria in advance of application for admission:

• Bachelor’s degree from a nationally or regionally accredited institution
• Documented cumulative undergraduate or graduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) OR a minimum GPA of 2.75 on the last 60 credit hours of coursework completed (see Transcripts and GPA below)
• Passing scores on specific required tests (based on license area sought)
• For the following licensure areas, additional required coursework must be completed prior to program admission.
• Early Childhood
• Middle Childhood
• Secondary Social Studies
• Proof of initiating required criminal background checks

Transcripts and GPA

Official transcripts must be submitted with the application packet

• From each accredited (regional or national accreditation) institution of higher education documenting degree(s) awarded
• Official seal or stamp from registrar’s office must be present
• ALL transcripts showing ALL coursework are required
• All transcripts/evaluations must be mailed to the applicant’s home address and submitted to the APPEL office with admission documents

Do NOT have official transcripts/evaluations mailed directly to the APPEL office

Copies or faxed copies of documents will NOT be accepted

Out of Country Transcripts and Evaluations

• Must be evaluated by an ADE approved in-country evaluation agency
• Must be documented as being equal to a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited U.S. college/university
• Must be course-by-course evaluation, prepared in English, with GPA reflected
• Do not request evaluations to be mailed directly to the APPEL office. Have the documents mailed to your home address.

GPA Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (or 2.75 in the last 60 hours of coursework, calculated for the last 60 hours working back from the most recent coursework completed)
• If the 60th hour falls in the middle of a semester the entire semester will be counted. This means that some GPA’s may be calculated on more than 60 hours.

  GPA Waiver –  A waiver of the 2.5 GPA requirement may be requested by candidates who meet ALL of the following criteria:  

• At least fifteen (15) years experience in the field related to the teaching/licensure area (subject to review and approval)
• A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Letter of justification submitted to APPEL from applicant detailing the relevance of his or her credentials to teach the specified subject
• Two (2) professional letters of recommendation submitted to APPEL by professional references

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Additional Coursework

 Additional specific coursework is required for teaching licenses in the following areas:

• Early Childhood (Grades P-4)
  • Six credit-hours of ADE-approved Teaching Reading Courses at an accredited Arkansas college/ university
• Three credit-hours of Arkansas History at an accredited college/university
• Middle Childhood (Grades 4-8)
  • Six credit-hours of ADE-approved Teaching Reading Courses at an accredited Arkansas college/ university
• Three credit-hours of Arkansas History at an accredited college/university
• Secondary Social Studies (Grades 7-12)
  • Three credit-hours of Arkansas History at an accredited college/university

For ADE-approved Teaching Reading courses

• Six credit hours of ADE-approved Teaching Reading Courses must be taken at an accredited Arkansas college/university.
• Both courses must be completed with a final grade of “C” or higher.
• NOTE: These courses may not be delivered more than 50% on-line.   For questions about obtaining approval for courses not listed, please e-mail Ann Crosser at ann.crosser@arkansas.gov.
• Required coursework MUST be completed by the end of the Spring, 2012 semester.
• Official transcript(s) showing both completed Teaching Reading courses with a final grade of “C” or higher must be on file with the APPEL office no later than June 10, 2013.
• If Reading courses are not completed prior to the date of application then official proof of enrollment is required.  The college/university must document:
• Course number(s) and title(s)
• Date course(s) will be completed
• Approximate date an official transcript will be available  

For Arkansas History

• Three credit-hours of Arkansas history must be taken at an accredited college/university.
• Official transcript showing completed Arkansas history course with a final grade of “C” or higher must be on file with the APPEL office no later than June 10, 2013 for admission to the program.
• NOTE:  This coursework may be taken on-line, via independent study, or in class.
• If Arkansas history course is not completed prior to the date of application then official proof of enrollment is required.  The college/university must document:
  • Course number(s) and title(s)
  • Date course(s) will be completed
  • Approximate date an official transcript will be available

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State and Federal Background Checks and DHS Central Registry

Mandatory State and Federal Background Checks:

Initiating Mandatory State and Federal Background Checks and DHS Central Registry:

• The Teacher Identification Bureau Individual Record Check Form (AR920080Z) and FBI fingerprint card are available from:
• local school district administrative offices (walk-in or appointment, forms will not be mailed)
• ADE Office of Professional Licensure (walk-in or mailed upon request at 501- 682-4342)
• Arkansas State Police Headquarters (walk-in and appointment only, forms will not be mailed. Call (501) 618-8500 for more information)
• Instructions for submission are given on the back page of the AR920080Z form. The State Police will report the results directly to the Arkansas Department of Education. 
• Background checks must be done on specific forms for licensed (certified) positions.
• DO NOT complete the forms for classified or non-licensed district personnel.
• Background checks must be less than one year old when applying for a teaching license. 
• Previous background checks done for any position other than teacher of record, including for substitute teaching, will not be accepted .  New background checks are required.
• Please be aware that the Arkansas Department of Education has access to and must consider any background check reflecting a conviction (pleading guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) or being found guilty by a jury or judge) for any offense listed in Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-410 as well as any felony involving physical or sexual injury, mistreatment, or abuse against another, including records that have been expunged, sealed or subject to a pardon. For any questions about this, please call the ADE Legal Office at (501) 682-4227.

For DHS Central Registry

Arkansas law requires that all teachers receiving an Arkansas teaching license for the first time must complete a background check through the Arkansas Department of Human Services Child Maltreatment Central Registry.

• For processing, return this required form, notarized to DHS with a check or money order for $10.00 made payable to the Department of Human Services .
  • No cash payments are accepted.
  • Allow 7-10 business days for processing.
  • Results are reported directly to the Arkansas Department of Education by DHS

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Required Testing  

Those seeking admission into APPEL must meet minimum testing requirements at the time of application. PRIOR TO making application all required exams must be taken and passed. Clicking the link below will provide interested applicants with specific information for the tests required BEFORE applying to the program.

Click here to learn more.

Related Links:

• Praxis Assessments
• Praxis Online Registration
• Praxis Study Preparation

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