20 CAR Part 1000 — Rules Governing the Requirements and Procedures for Obtaining an Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential

Chapter XLV

Subchapter A

Subpart 1

20 CAR § 1000-101 Authority {#sec-20-car-1000-101 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-20-part-1000--20 CAR § 1000-101}

20 CAR § 1000-101. Authority.

The Office of Early Childhood of the Department of Education, shall coordinate and administer the Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential fulfilling the requirements of Arkansas Code §§ 20-78-205(b) and 20-78-801 et seq.

20 CAR § 1000-102 Purpose {#sec-20-car-1000-102 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-20-part-1000--20 CAR § 1000-102}

20 CAR § 1000-102. Purpose.

(a) The purpose of this part is to establish the requirements and procedures for obtaining an Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential.

(b) The Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential is a competency-based credential created to provide an additional professional pathway for individuals wishing to pursue a more advanced level of knowledge and skill in working with young children and their families.

(c) The credential provides a pathway for the preparation of teachers for all children, birth through age five (5), including children with special needs, but shall not be utilized in lieu of the teaching license issued by the State Board of Education when it is required for a public early childhood education program.

(d)(1) Professionals working in a variety of early care and education settings including Head Start, Arkansas Better Chance, early intervention day treatment or other inclusive programs, home visiting programs, and various community-based early care and education services will find this credential supportive of their professional development needs.

(2) In addition, the credential will strengthen the infrastructure in Arkansas which will improve the quality of programs and experiences available for all children, birth to age five (5), regardless of setting.

(e) The Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential reflects the Arkansas Professional Development Registry Arkansas Workforce Knowledge and Competencies for Early Childhood.

20 CAR § 1000-103 Definitions {#sec-20-car-1000-103 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-20-part-1000--20 CAR § 1000-103}

20 CAR § 1000-103. Definitions.

For the purpose of this part, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Birth through prekindergarten” means children from birth through age four (4) or five (5);

(2)(A) “Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential” means a credential based on attainment of specified competencies.

(B) These competencies can be found in a core of college credit hours at either the two-year or four-year level;

(3) “Competency” means knowledge or skill which has been identified as critical to the Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential;

(4) “Core course” means a course designed by higher education to include specified early childhood competencies;

(5) “Designated assessment” means a knowledge or skill assessment for the birth through prekindergarten teaching competencies;

(6) “Minimum educational level” means eighteen (18) to twenty-seven (27) college credit hours in early childhood development and early childhood education focused specifically on infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with no course grade below a "C";

(7) “OEC” means the Office of Early Childhood of the Department of Education;

(8) “Public early childhood education program” means an education program which is all or partially funded with state or federal funds and serves children from birth through prekindergarten; and

(9) “Qualifying assessment score” means the score determined by the Office of Early Childhood.

20 CAR § 1000-104 Requirements for obtaining an Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential {#sec-20-car-1000-104 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-20-part-1000--20 CAR § 1000-104}

20 CAR § 1000-104. Requirements for obtaining an Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential.

(a) A person applying for the Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential is not required to pay a fee for submitting the application or obtaining the credential.

(b) A person must meet the minimum educational level as determined by the Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential which are embedded in eighteen (18) to twenty-seven (27) college credit hours in early childhood development and early childhood education focused specifically on:

(1) Infants;

(2) Toddlers; and

(3) Preschoolers.

(c) A person must complete the content knowledge of a specialty area assessment designated by the Office of Early Childhood, Arkansas Early Childhood Commission’s Early Learning Council with a score equal to or greater than the Arkansas qualifying assessment score.

(d) A person may obtain the Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential by the following pathways:

(1) Complete eighteen (18) to twenty-seven (27) college credit hours in early childhood development and early childhood education focused specifically on:

(A) Infants;

(B) Toddlers; and

(C) Preschoolers;

(2) Complete an associate or bachelor’s degree which includes the Arkansas birth through prekindergarten teaching competencies which appear in eighteen (18) to twenty-seven (27) college credit hours in early childhood development and early childhood education focused specifically on:

(A) Infants;

(B) Toddlers; and

(C) Preschoolers; or

(3) Add the Arkansas birth through prekindergarten teaching competencies to an existing two-year or four-year degree.

(4) A person coming from another state within the United States may be issued the Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential by fulfilling subsections (a) – (c) of this section and need not have an associate degree.

(e) A person outside the United States may be issued the Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential by fulfilling subsections (a) – (c) of this section and need not have an associate degree.

20 CAR § 1000-105 General policies and procedures relating to the Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential {#sec-20-car-1000-105 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-20-part-1000--20 CAR § 1000-105}

20 CAR § 1000-105. General policies and procedures relating to the Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential.

(a)(1) The Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential shall:

(A) Become effective upon the date of issue; and

(B) Be valid for five (5) years.

(2) The credential shall expire five (5) years from the effective date as reflected on the Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential.

(3) The procedure for applying for a Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential is as follows:

(A) Complete the application form;

(B) Complete the non-criminal background check or show verification of completion;

(C) Complete Child Maltreatment Central Registry check or show verification of completion;

(D) Attach official college transcript or transcripts of college hours with course objectives;

(E) Attach course objectives and competencies for each course;

(F) Attach a report showing the designated qualifying assessment score; and

(G) Send a cover letter, application, and transcript or transcripts to the Office of Early Childhood.

(b)(1) A person holding the Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential shall complete a minimum of thirty (30) hours of professional development annually in early childhood development or early childhood education.

(2) At least ten (10) of the thirty (30) hours should be in the areas of:

(A) Special populations;

(B) English as a second language;

(C) Nutrition; and

(D) Health and safety of infants and toddlers.

(3) This professional development shall be approved and documented by the Department of Education or the Arkansas Professional Development Registry.

20 CAR § 1000-106 Monitoring and assessment requirements {#sec-20-car-1000-106 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-20-part-1000--20 CAR § 1000-106}

20 CAR § 1000-106. Monitoring and assessment requirements.

(a) The Office of Early Childhood will verify the annual professional development hours of the applicants upon renewal of certification.

(b) Verification of hours can be completed through one (1) of the following ways:

(1) Applicants may submit a transcript of professional development hours; or

(2) Applicants may grant access to the office to verify hours within the Arkansas Professional Development Registry.

(c) A person shall complete the assessment designated by the office with a qualifying assessment score.

20 CAR § 1000-107 Requirements for the renewal of an Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential {#sec-20-car-1000-107 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-20-part-1000--20 CAR § 1000-107}

20 CAR § 1000-107. Requirements for the renewal of an Arkansas Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential.

A Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential shall be automatically renewed upon the person meeting the following requirements:

(1) Complete the renewal application form;

(2) Attach a copy of a valid Birth through Prekindergarten Teaching Credential; and

(3) Attach documentation which verifies the annual thirty (30) hours of professional development in early childhood development or early childhood education.