Early Childhood PreK Teacher Academies provide an alternative route for non-licensed candidates to earn a first-time license in Early Childhood PreK. The programs include graduate coursework delivered both synchronously and asynchronously. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Arkansas Scholarships will be available for eligible applicants. More information is available at https://arkansasearlychildhood.org/teach/.

The next PreK Teacher Academy will start in Summer 2024. Participants will be eligible to apply for a first-time license in Early Childhood PreK at the end of the internship semester once they complete all requirements.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or higher in Early Childhood Education or at least 18 hours of Early Childhood Education coursework as part of a bachelor's degree or higher. Participants must be employed during their fall internship in a setting serving three, four, and five-year-olds in Arkansas and have a signed participation form from the district or program that is: Arkansas accreditation for a Better Beginnings Level 3 or higher program and is associated with a School District or an Education Cooperative Service/LEA program.

Applicants must have a passing score on the Praxis: Education of Young Children (5024) before the start of an Early Childhood PreK Teacher Academy.

240 Tutoring now has study resources for Praxis: Education of Young Children (5024).  DESE is funding free 240 Tutoring accounts for teachers and teacher candidates. The request form is available at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFkDfBX_6HTFJrzLFTxGWUcACZ9t_4v2iqIg-LmJ8e7LDV2A/viewform

The following are T.E.A.C.H. college partners for the 2024 Early Childhood PreK Academy:

• Arkansas State University:  Dr. Beverly Boals Gilbert - bboals@astate.edu - Summer 2024 Pre-K Academy
  
• Harding University:  Dr. Leeann Howard - lhoward6@harding.edu - Informational Flyer
• Henderson State University: Dr. Charlotte Wright - wrightc@hsu.edu - Informational flyer
  
• University of Arkansas at Fayetteville:  Dr. Laura Kay Herold -lkherold@uark.edu - Informational flyer
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock:  Dr. Leslie Sharp - lsharp@ualr.edu - Pre-K Academy Flyer

For more information, please contact:

Joan Luneau, Educator Preparation Coordinator
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary & Secondary Education
Educator Effectiveness
Four Capitol Mall
Little Rock, AR 72201
email: joan.luneau@ade.arkansas.gov