Arkansas to reward top teachers with bonuses, Izard County School District has highest percentage in state

The State of Arkansas is rewarding top teachers with bonuses and one district in the area, Izard County, had the highest percentage of teachers in the state receiving bonuses. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Department of Education announced Tuesday more than 4,200 teachers in the state will receive up to $10,000 bonuses for the 2024-25 school year through the LEARNS Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program.

To be eligible, teachers must meet four requirements:
– Have an Arkansas teaching license and three years of teaching experience.
– Meet the definition of “teacher” as outlined in the LEARNS Act for Merit Teach Incentive Fund.
– Demonstrate a positive impact on student growth.
– 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.

Teachers who fill a subject shortage receive $2,500, and those meeting a geographic shortage or a designation shortage receive $1,500.

The Izard County School District has the highest percentage of teachers in the state receiving bonuses at 84.6%. The average bonus at Izard County is $2,371.

Three other districts in north central Arkansas are above 25%, the highest level shown on the Arkansas Department of Education’s map. Lead Hill has 41.4% of their teachers receiving bonuses averaging $2,500. At Omaha, it’s 30.3% with an average check at $3,550. Valley Springs has 29.4% of its teachers getting checks which average $4,175.

Here is a breakdown of each school in north central Arkansas by county:

BAXTER COUNTY SCHOOLS

Mountain Home – 8.7% receiving bonus, $3,080 average bonus
Cotter – 10.3% receiving bonus, $4,167 average bonus
Norfork – 9.3% receiving bonus, $2,875 average bonus

MARION COUNTY SCHOOLS

Flippin – 11.1% receiving bonus, $3,500 average bonus
Yellville-Summit – 12.5% receiving bonus, $3,250 average bonus

FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS

Viola – 11.4% receiving bonus, $3,500 average bonus
Salem – 21.5% receiving bonus, $4,107 average bonus
Mammoth Spring – 6.4% receiving bonus, $2,167 bonus

IZARD COUNTY SCHOOLS

Calico Rock – 8.1% receiving bonus, $3,500 average bonus
Izard County – 64.6% receiving bonus, $2,371 average bonus
Melbourne – 11.9% receiving bonus, $53,57 average bonus

STONE COUNTY SCHOOLS

Mountain View (Mountain View, Rural Special & Timbo) – 15.3% receiving bonus, $2,565 average bonus

BOONE COUNTY SCHOOLS

Harrison – 18.5% receiving bonus, $3,647 average bonus
Lead Hill – 41.4% receiving bonus, $2,500 average bonus
Bergman – 19.5% receiving bonus, $3,000 average bonus
Valley Springs – 29.4% receiving bonus, $4,175 average bonus
Omaha – 30.3% receiving bonus, $3,550 average bonus
Alpena – 11.1% receiving bonus, $3,750 average bonus

SEARCY COUNTY SCHOOLS

Ozark Mountain (Bruno Pyatt, St. Joe & Western Grove) – 10.2% receiving bonus, $2,600 average bonus
Searcy County (Marshall) – 5.9% receiving bonus, $2,750 average bonus

NEWTON COUNTY SCHOOLS

Jasper (Jasper, Kingston, Oark) – 6.4% receiving bonus, $2,600 average bonus
Deer-Mt. Judea – 12.8% receiving bonus, $2,500 average bonus

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