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PCSSD receives $442,766.50 for state merit-pay program; district outlines who qualified
Summary
The district reported statewide and local results of Arkansas' teacher merit-pay program: statewide roughly 4,283 teachers received bonuses, ADE set aside $14,240,000 plus fringe, and Pulaski County Special School District received $442,766.50 (with benefits).
Pulaski County Special School District officials on July 8 summarized the district's share of a statewide teacher merit-pay program, telling trustees the district would receive $442,766.50 in merit funds including fringe benefits.
Dr. Whitfield, presenting the statewide and local figures, said the Arkansas Department of Education "set aside 14,240,000.00 for this plus the fringe benefits such as retirement." She said statewide roughly 4,283 teachers received some bonus, about 10% of the state's teachers.
Why it matters: The merit-pay program distributes state funds to teachers who meet specific licensure, experience and growth criteria. The board heard the district's allocation and the eligibility categories that determined awards.
What the board heard - Eligibility and state criteria: Dr. Whitfield said a qualifying "teacher" is a classroom teacher who spends at least 70% of time with students, or a counselor or teacher librarian holding a current license, with three or more years of teaching experience, no ethics violations, an end-of-year rating of "effective" or higher and a three-year growth average of at least 80. Counselors and librarians must provide an artifact showing contribution to student growth. - Statewide distribution: "A total of 4,283 teachers received some bonus. That's roughly 10% of the teachers in Arkansas," Dr. Whitfield said. She said over 800 teachers received $5,000 or less, 76 teachers earned the maximum of $10,000 and the statewide average bonus was $3,299. - District totals: Dr. Whitfield said PCSSD "qualified in growth for $91,000" and that, "the district did receive with benefits a total of $442,766.50." She noted that because the program caps awards at $10,000 per person, some aggregate district-qualifying totals were reduced.
Context and limitations Dr. Whitfield cautioned that not all teachers are eligible: educators must hold a current teaching license; some long-serving classroom instructors without a valid license do not qualify. She also said some categories are still under development at the state level, including a proposed mentor category for year-long residents.
What happens next Board members heard the informational presentation as part of the board's reports and did not take separate action on the merit-pay distribution at the July 8 meeting. The district staff will handle distribution consistent with state rules and the program's $10,000 cap per person.
Ending Dr. Whitfield said the funds represented meaningful recognition for qualifying teachers and that some staff were surprised and pleased by the awards.
