Educator Effectiveness and Licensure

Alternative Assessment Plan

Alternate Assessment Plan (AAP)

  • In order to be granted a standard license in a first-time licensure area (see Appendix A link below) an applicant must demonstrate competency in their subject matter content on an identified assessment as approved by the State Board. An identified assessment may be:

    • A passing score on an approved content area assessment; or
    • A score within minus two (-2) standard error of measurement (SEM) based on the national standard or an approved score by the SBE on the content area assessment, and
      • A DESE-approved micro-credential (s) or performance-based content assessment
      • edTPA -https://www.edtpa.com/PageView.aspx?f=GEN_Arkansas.html
      • and at least three years of relevant teaching experience in the content area as demonstrated through successful TESS evaluations and definition of effective teacher found under 1-2.31.

    An applicant may receive a renewable provisional license based on yearly progress on DESE approved identified assessment.  This renewable provisional license is limited for up to three (3) years.  Educators must be employed in a public school and or charter school.

    1. District Instructions for the Alternate Assessment Plan (AAP) (PDF)
    2. AAP Score Chart
    3. Appendix A: Levels and Areas of Licensure (PDF)
    4. AAP Form Year 2 and 3 (PDF)
    5. Converting AAP Provisional to Standard (PDF)


    For more information, please contact:

    Melissa Jacks, Office of Educator Licensure
    Arkansas Department of Education
    Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
    Four Capitol Mall
    Little Rock, AR 72201
    Phone: 501-683-0169