New Program Passed Through AR LEARNS Gives $10 Million Dollars in Bonuses to Arkansas Educators

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Arkansas Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva announced on Tuesday that 3,000 teachers will receive bonuses from the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program, with amounts up to $10,000. This initiative, part of the LEARNS Act, rewards educators for exceptional student performance growth, mentoring yearlong residency participants, or teaching in areas with critical teacher shortages. The bonuses, ranging from $1,500 to $10,000, will be distributed by month’s end.

Last March, Governor Sanders enacted the LEARNS Act, increasing starting teacher salaries from $36,000 to $50,000, ranking first nationally when adjusted for cost of living. The act also provides up to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave for teachers and introduces the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program.

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education identified the bonus recipients using data from the Statewide Information System, the Educator Effectiveness System, the Arkansas Educator Licensure System, and student assessment results.

For additional details regarding districts where teachers received merit pay bonuses, please visit learns.ade.arkansas.gov.