We are excited to share a computer science professional development opportunity available to Arkansas educators through ASMSA’s Coding Arkansas’ Future initiative and supported by grant funds from the Arkansas Department of Education. If this opportunity would benefit others in your network, please pass this information along to them.

Educators preparing for the computer science Praxis are invited to apply for a three-day CS Praxis “Boot Camp” to be held March 6 – 8 in Hot Springs. Housing, meals, materials, and 18 hours of ADE-approved professional development credit will be provided at no cost. Educators will be responsible for their own transportation to and from ASMSA and the $120 registration cost for the Praxis exam. Twenty applicants will be chosen for this workshop. Application deadline is February 17. Notifications will be made by February 21.

Passing the Computer Science Praxis and adding the 528 endorsement to your license has many benefits including

• $120 exam fee reimbursement

• $300 teacher stipend

• $50 annual Computer Science Teachers Association “Plus” membership dues paid

• Access to high school annual stipends

  • $850 for teaching high school computer science to 10 or more students in fall

  • $850 for teaching high school computer science to 10 or more students in spring

• Access to K-8 Lead Teacher annual stipends

  • $500 for attending K-8 Lead Teacher PD

  • $600 for approved fall CS PD activities

  • $600 for approved spring CS PD activities

Finally, many who currently teach high school computer science are doing so with a 5016 temporary approval code. Per the CS Licensure Approval Code Requirements document:

Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, the plan is that all teachers that wish to continue teaching the ADE/ARCareerED approved computer science courses will need a 528 Endorsement on their license.

Whether it’s to increase opportunities for your students, to earn some extra income, or to maintain eligibility to teach your current courses, please consider joining us in Hot Springs for the three-day CS Praxis boot camp in March!