For 20 years, ArkansasIDEAS has been a cornerstone of professional development for educators across the state, helping K-12 teachers grow, innovate and elevate student learning. As the most widely used online professional development resource in the state, ArkansasIDEAS – through its strong partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) – has provided thousands of educators with high-quality courses tailored to their unique needs. With more than 96,000 educators utilizing the platform and over 4.7 million hours of professional development awarded since its inception, ArkansasIDEAS continues to make a lasting impact on classrooms statewide.
Milestones and Achievements
ArkansasIDEAS is the most used online teacher professional development resource for K-12 educators in Arkansas. The portal is also widely utilized by both traditional and non-traditional teacher preparation programs, including university colleges of education, Arkansas Teacher Corps and others.
The impact of ArkansasIDEAS over the past 20 years is undeniable. In the past five years, ArkansasIDEAS has grown by 47% in users. Over 1.8 million credit hours have been earned by users in the past five years. As of March 2025, the ArkansasIDEAS course catalog boasts more than 600 courses, covering various topics to support teacher development and student success.
Built for Arkansas Educators, By Arkansas Educators
One of the unique strengths of ArkansasIDEAS is that it is built specifically for Arkansas teachers. ArkansasIDEAS provides professional development courses applicable to various teaching positions and subject areas as well as courses covering topics that are required by law for teachers to take, including courses on child maltreatment, bullying, concussions, sudden cardiac arrest, Arkansas history and more.
The portal also includes a 14-hour learning path providing Science of Reading Awareness training for those teachers required to demonstrate awareness, and a 45-hour Arkansas history program of study that is utilized for licensure in several areas, including to fulfill a requirement for teachers moving to Arkansas from other states.
Beyond compliance, ArkansasIDEAS takes pride in crafting engaging and effective courses that make a measurable difference. Educators can earn credits toward their continuing education requirements, and in some cases, must pass assessments to demonstrate mastery of the material. By enhancing teacher knowledge and skills, ArkansasIDEAS directly contributes to improved student achievement across the state.
Award-Winning Excellence
In 2023, ArkansasIDEAS was awarded the State Achievement Award – Professional Learning by the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA). The Education Department has also been recognized by the National Educational Telecommunications Association’s (NETA) Public Media Awards for Overall Excellence in Education (2020) and Teacher Professional Development (2020).
Local Content That Makes a Difference
ArkansasIDEAS also features locally produced content from Arkansas PBS such as “Information on Mental Health for Students,” “Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers in Arkansas,” “Human Trafficking: Who Are the Victims?” and “Speak Up, Speak Out: Teen Suicide Awareness and Prevention,” with corresponding curriculum.
What’s Coming Up Next?
This summer, ArkansasIDEAS is launching “Human Trafficking: Who Are the Victims?”, “Bullying” and “Child Maltreatment.”
FIND OUT MORE
Visit ArkansasIDEAS for more information.