The Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB) was created by Act 846 of 2007 (original act and amendments are codified at Ark. Code §§ 6-17-422 and 6-17-428). The board is comprised of 20 members. Of these members, two non-voting members are appointed by the commissioner of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and one non-voting member is appointed by the Director of the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education. The remainder are appointed by the State Board of Education for three-year terms.

Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-422, the Professional Licensure Standards Board developed minimum college level preparatory and grade point average requirements for all teachers. With the assistance of the DESE and the Division of Higher Education, the board shall review the audits of the teacher education programs in the state to determine if the programs allow graduates to become licensed.

The board also established a code of ethics for administrators and teachers in educational environments for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The Code of Ethics is administered by a five-member Ethics Subcommittee composed of PLSB members.  The code of ethics is governed by Ark. Code Ann.§ 6-17-428 and the administrative rules adopted by the SBE set forth the procedures for receiving, considering, and investigating complaints regarding the unethical behavior of licensed school personnel. To file a complaint, please complete and submit the allegation form.

The PLSB enters final orders in cases in which the educator does not request a State Board review. If an educator requests State Board review, the State Board enters the final order.

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