Arkansas Rewards Thousands of Top Teachers With Up to $10K in Bonuses

A map showing merit bonus recipients by county. High concentrations of recipients are in critical shortage areas. Izard County has the highest percentage of educators receiving a bonus at 64.6%. (Arkansas Department of Education)

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Department of Education announced Tuesday that more than 4,200 Arkansas educators will receive up to $10,000 in bonuses for the 2024-2025 school year through the LEARNS Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program.

That number is up from 3,000 educators in the 2023-2024 school year.

Bonuses are given to Arkansas educators who have demonstrably improved students’ performance, spent time mentoring aspiring teachers or chosen to teach in a shortage area. For the 2024-2025 school year, more than 800 educators are receiving a $5,000 or more bonus, and more than 70 educators will receive $10,000.

A press release from the governor’s office said the state is committed to recruiting, retaining and supporting outstanding educators “because great teachers mean a great education.”

“Behind every successful student is a dedicated teacher,” Sanders said in the release. “LEARNS not only raised starting teacher pay from $36,000 to $50,000 a year, but also created the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program to continue rewarding teachers for their hard work. Our students deserve the best, and our best deserve incentives that match the influence they have on learning.”

Merit pay is awarded to teachers meet all four of the following requirements:

• Have an Arkansas teaching license and three years of teaching experience
• Be a classroom teacher who spends at least 70% of their contracted time working directly with students in a classroom setting. School counselors and library media specialists also are considered teachers.
• Demonstrate a positive impact on student growth through the state’s Educator Effectiveness System
• Fall into at least one merit pay category

Based on a teacher’s three-year average student growth score, the top 0.5% receive $10,000, the top 1% receive $9,000, the top 5% receive $6,000 and the top 25% receive $3,000.

For educators in a critical shortage area, teachers who fill a subject shortage receive $2,500, and those meeting a geographic shortage or a designation shortage receive $1,500.

Educators who served as a mentor to a year-long resident teacher are eligible for a $3,000 bonus.

“The increase in the number of educators receiving merit pay this year demonstrates the positive impact LEARNS has had on education in Arkansas,” Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said in the release. “Through the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program, educators are rewarded for having a significant impact on student learning, their school and their community. We congratulate them and look forward to recognizing others in the future.”