Merit Teacher Incentive Fund
Elevating the Profession. Rewarding Excellence.
The Arkansas Merit Teacher Incentive Fund, established by the LEARNS Act (Act 237 of 2023), is a state-funded initiative that rewards exceptional Arkansas educators who demonstrate outstanding performance and a strong commitment to student learning.
Program Purpose
- Elevate the teaching profession
- Recognize high-performing educators
- Reward service in critical shortage areas
- Incentivize excellent educators to mentor future teachers
Timeline
April 30
Final day to complete teacher growth artifacts and annual ratings
May 1
DESE Data Pull
May 2–22
Eligibility and Incentive Amount Calculation Period
May 23–29
Superintendent Review Period
June 1–30
Distribution of Incentive Funds
Teacher and Administrator Resources
Merit Pay Distribution Map
For the 2024–2025 school year, more than 4,200 educators were rewarded for their outstanding performance and their commitment to elevating Arkansas schools.
For More Information
Office of Educator Licensure
Related Files
Related Links
