AGENDA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION - real facts omsd

Public Comments: Rules Governing Educator Licensure – July - September 2012 (Second Public Comment Period)
September 14, 2012
Lisa Lowery
September 14, 2012
Rachel Sams
September 14, 2012
Lennie Hurst
Given the high stakes decisions that are based on the results, the assessment of students with special needs
requires a rigorous graduate education, Based on the extensive curriculum requirements specific to
assessment, National Association of School Psychologist (NASP)-Approval, and the more stringent
licensure and certification requirements, the SPS is better equipped to provide psychological and
educational assessment services to P-12 students with special learning, behavioral, and emotional needs.
For example, the SPS is required to successfully complete a total of 36 semester hours of graduate
coursework specific to assessment including a supervised internship while the SEEE completes only 21
and no supervised internship. Furthermore, the SPS is trained to provide a wider range of services which
also include: consultation, intervention, prevention, program planning and evaluation, education/inservice,
and supervision.
Given the above information and the availability of two NASP-Approved School Psychology training
programs in Arkansas, the previous recommendation most recently put forth by the Arkansas School
Psychology Association (ASPA) is valid. That is, as part of the ADE proposed changes/revisions in
licensure rules, the ADE should strongly consider eliminating the licensure endorsement for SEEE in the
State of Arkansas. SEEE who currently hold the license could be grandfathered. Students seeking the
SEEE license could be allowed to secure the credential until a reasonable cut-off date (e.g., December of
2015), after which time no SEEE licenses would be granted by the ADE.
I strongly believe librarians should be licensed/experienced as classroom teachers first. Most librarians are
required to teach state frameworks or assist teachers in the classroom. Shelving books is a small part of a
librarian's responsibilities. Until you have walked a mile in a classroom teacher's shoes you will be hard-
pressed to know what they truly need.
I am a liscensed media specialist and classroom teacher. I feel it is extremely important that the
professionals who wish to be a media specialist have classroom experience first. The media center
(especially in lower grades) is an extension of the classroom therefore media specialists need to be
knowledgable about classroom curriculum in order to teach the standards for library media. It also gives a
good background on literature, classroom managament, and professionalism as a whole. Without a
professional background to build upon the media center will not be as successful. Again, I feel it would be
detrimental to the media specialist program if the teacher licesensure requirement is eliminated.
(Re: Should librarians be a licensed teacher) I'm a public school librarian, and I teach everyday. I think
that any certified employee in the school system would need to have a teaching certificate. Could a
talented artist automatically be a good teacher of art? Could a talented musician automatically be a good
teacher of band? Probably not......
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