Unsatisfactory Evaluations: Arkansas

Analysis of Arkansas's policies

In Arkansas, new legislation requires that a teacher be placed "in intensive support status" if the teacher receives an "unsatisfactory" rating in "any one entire teacher evaluation category" in the evaluation framework. A teacher could also be placed on intensive support status "if the teacher has a rating of "unsatisfactory" or "basic" in a majority of descriptors within a teacher evaluation category.

Teachers can remain in intensive support status for two consecutive semesters.  However, the evaluator can extend the status for an additional two semesters upon seeing significant improvement in the goals and tasks assigned—which should correlate to the teacher's professional learning plan and "evidence-based research concerning the evaluation category that forms the basis for the intensive support status."

At the end of the time frame allotted for support, if the teacher has not met the goals and completed the tasks required, "the superintendent shall recommend termination or nonrenewal of the teacher's contract."

Unfortunately, Arkansas' effort to make unsatisfactory evaluations grounds for non-retention does not carry over to the state's dismissal policy (see Goal 5-C). 

Citation

Arkansas Code 6-17-1504; 6-17-2807

Recommendations for Arkansas

State response to our analysis

Arkansas was helpful in providing NCTQ with the facts necessary for this analysis.