One-Year Supervised Residency for First-time Teacher Candidates
One-Year Supervised Residency for First-time Teacher Candidates
On January 11, 2023, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an Executive Order prioritizing L.E.A.R.N.S.—Literacy, Empowerment, Accountability, Readiness, Networking, and School Safety. That order preceded the Arkansas LEARNS Act (March 2023) and directed the Arkansas Department of Education to build a strong teacher pipeline by ensuring that all completers receiving a degree or alternative teacher training certificate from a state‑approved educator preparation program in September 2027 and beyond have completed a one-year residency alongside an experienced mentor teacher in a school setting.
Program Overview
The residency is a two-semester clinical experience with an increasing focus on classroom time and structured support from a credentialed clinical supervisor and an experienced mentor teacher.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the prerequisites for starting the residency?
- Traditional undergraduate programs: completion of at least 90 hours of coursework.
- Alternative pathway: possession of a bachelor’s degree or higher.
What does the one‑year residency entail?
A one‑year residency includes a clinical placement spanning two consecutive semesters (Fall→Spring or Spring→Fall):
- Semester 1: minimum of 3 days/week (or 18 hours).
- Semester 2: minimum of 4 days/week (or 24 hours).
What kind of school can a residency placement be in?
A one‑year residency shall take place in a public‑school classroom, including public charter classrooms, or an accredited private school classroom.
How are teacher residents supervised?
- Candidates are assigned one credentialed clinical supervisor from the Educator Preparation Provider. The supervisor must be current on all training related to coaching, candidate evaluation, and clinical experience.
- Candidates are assigned one experienced mentor teacher who supports no more than two total pre‑service or in‑service educators (including the current candidate).
What are the requirements for the Experienced Mentor Teacher?
- Minimum of three (3) years of teaching experience.
- Holds a current standard Arkansas teaching license.
- Evidence of an Effective or higher evaluation within the last three years.
- Completion of DESE‑designated coaching training.
- Experienced Mentor Teachers of yearlong residents may be eligible for merit incentives if additional requirements are met. Refer to the Merit Pay Eligibility and Amounts webpage for more information.
What programs in Arkansas have an approved one-year supervised residency?
See the programs at this link:
View Approved Programs