Arkansas Merit Incentive Fund

The LEARNS Act (Act 237 of the 2023 Regular Session) established the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program, also known as Merit Pay, to recognize and reward Arkansas's outstanding educators. The program's primary goals are to retain high-performing teachers in classrooms across the state and enhance teacher recruitment and retention in priority (e.g., mentors) and critical shortage areas.  

"Celebrating Excellence: The Merit Teacher Fund and its Impact on Arkansas Educators"

Program Basics 

The LEARNS Act mandates that the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund Program provide annual bonuses of up to $10,000 across multiple categories. The legislature set aside $10 million for the program. The broad eligibility categories include classroom teachers, library media specialists, and school counselors who: 

  • Demonstrate outstanding growth in student performance;
  • Are employed in subject, geographic, and other critical shortage areas; and
  • Serve as a mentor to aspiring teachers participating in yearlong residencies.

Merit Pay Distribution Map for the 2023-2024 School Year 

Nearly 3,000 educators received bonuses in the program's first year, representing almost 10% of the teacher workforce. Over 500 educators received a bonus of $5,000 or more, and 46 teachers received the maximum bonus of $10,000, many of them by stacking bonuses from different categories. 

Bonus recipients were widely distributed across the state, with high concentrations in geographic shortage areas. The interactive map below allows you to explore the district-level results. 
https://joshbmcgee.github.io/Total%20Bonus%20Interactive%20Map_5-30-24.html 

Merit Pay Eligibility Criteria and Amounts 

Criteria and amounts may be adjusted annually. To view a detailed explanation of the criteria, amounts, and program outcomes for the 2023-2024 school year, please view the blog provided by the University of Arkansas's Office for Education Policy.  

For more information, please contact:

Karli Saracini, Assistant Commissioner
Professional Licensure Standards Board
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Four Capitol Mall, Rm 401-1A
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Office: 501-682-4095
Fax:  501-682-3781