TITLENon-Traditional Licensure Program HISTORYIn 1987 the Arkansas Department of Education realizing that a rich pool of experienced people exists who may wish to enter the teaching profession developed the Non-Traditional Licensure Program (NTLP) to attract and train well-qualified individuals to stem the growing teacher shortage in Arkansas. The NTLP is a developmentally appropriate teacher-training program for persons who have a four-year degree or higher that includes 288 hours of intensive specialized training and two years of support from a site-based trained mentor to assist with the guidance of professional growth for the new teacher during the first two years of teaching employment. MOTIVATION"The program is intended to attract and train qualified individuals to fill teaching assignments in districts which have a history of difficulty in recruiting certified teachers. The Department is committed to assisting local school district efforts to identify, recruit and employ teachers; we encourage nominations of minority candidates in all certifiable areas." GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREA(S) COVEREDP – 4 Early Childhood, Pre-school through 4 th grade 4 – 8 Middle Childhood, Grades 4 through 8 7 – 12 Secondary Education, Grades 7 through 12 WHO OPERATESArkansas Department of Education, Office of Professional Quality Enhancement, through five local sites (statewide). REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER PROGRAM• Official Transcript(s) with degree(s) posted, demonstrating a bachelor's degree or higher from each accredited college or university attended with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Out of country transcripts must be evaluated prior to application by an independent in-country evaluation agency. Academic credentials must be documented as being equal to a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited U.S. college or university. • Praxis I passing scores • Praxis II (content area) passing tests scores • Summary of work history (resume) • Three professional references • Cover letter • NTLP application REQUIREMENTS TO RECEIVE NTL PROVISIONAL LICENSEFirst Year • Verification of employment by an Arkansas School • Payment of the $750 NTLP fee • Mandatory attendance of all summer preparation sessions • Ark ansas and FBI Background Check clearance Second Year • Verification of employment by an Arkansas School • Payment of the $750 NTLP fee • Mandatory attendance of all preparation sessions • Praxis II Principals of Learning and Teaching passing score, or Praxis II Content Area Pedagogy passing score(s) SELECTION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTSAll districts in Arkansas are eligible to participate. PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONThe Non-Traditional Licensure Program strives for best practice
instructional delivery to the NTLP candidates in the following
areas: To complete the program and receive an initial Ark ansas Teaching License the participant must successfully complete all NTL teacher preparation modules and teach as a teacher of record for a minimum of 120 days each year and pass the Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching or the Praxis II pedagogical portion of the participant's content area. NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS TO COMPLETE Three areas of licensure require additional coursework. WHO EVALUATESPerformance evaluation is regularly conducted by the teacher preparation sites. LENGTH OF TIMETwo years
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