Leaders of 15 Pulaski County traditional and charter schools received ceremonial, oversized checks totaling $714,752.64 at a ceremony held Monday to highlight the academic accomplishments of the schools and their resulting state rewards.
Members of the Arkansas Legislature, along with the North Little Rock, Sherwood and Maumelle chambers of commerce, participated in the program hosted by the Little Rock Regional Chamber and organized by Arkansas Learns, a nonprofit organization that advocates for giving parents choices about schools for their children.
"We know that industry doesn't consider local geographic boundaries when hiring, so all schools across the county are critical to our region's future talent, " Cathy Tuggle, chairman of the board for the Little Rock Regional Chamber, said in thanking the other chamber leaders for their participation.
She also said the check presentations are a "great acknowledgement of schools that are leading the way in providing the next generation of talent."
The giant checks presented Monday, which bore Gov. Asa Hutchinson's signature and amounts ranging from $11,299 to $85,130, are a follow-up to the Arkansas Department of Education's announcement last month that $6,999,529 would be distributed to about 175 schools statewide for high student achievement or great improvement on the Spring 2017 ACT Aspire exams. High schools can also rewarded for their graduation rates.
The state-required Aspire tests are given annually in math, literacy and science to students in grades three through 10.
In addition, Monday's event also highlighted Pulaski County area schools that received A letter grades through the state's recently revised A-to-F letter-grade system. The letter-grade system is based on more expanded criteria than the reward system. It includes student achievement and academic growth on Aspire tests along with characteristics of student and school success.
Gary Newton, executive director of Arkansas Learns, said ceremonies similar to Monday's to recognize reward schools and A schools are being held across the state.
"It is hard to celebrate a direct deposit," Newton said about the reason for the presentations of oversized checks. "There are so many sticks out there to punish schools. Both of these initiatives were created to be the carrot."
The $7 million Arkansas School Recognition Program was established by Arkansas Code Annotated 6-15-2107 to be used by the recipient schools for school employee bonuses, equipment purchases and employment of personnel to assist in improving student achievement.
Campuses that are among the top 5 percent of schools in terms of student achievement and/or the top 5 percent in achievement gains receive $95.76 per student.
Schools that are among the top 6 percent to 10 percent in achievement and/or the top 6 percent to 10 percent in achievement gains on the Aspire are receiving $47.88 per student. The achievement-gains category also takes into account graduation rates for high schools.
To collect the rewards, each school had to establish a committee composed of the principal, a faculty-elected teacher representative and a parent representative to decide how to use the money. The spending plan must be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education.
In Pulaski County, five of the 15 honored schools are getting awards in two categories -- high achievement and high achievement gains over past years. Those five include Little Rock's Dr. Don R. Roberts Elementary, which is receiving $85,130.64 for being among the top five percent of high scoring schools in the state and another $85,130.64 for being among the top 5 percent in achievement gains.
The other schools receiving two awards are eSTEM Public Charter Elementary, Pulaski County Special School District's Baker and Chenal elementaries, and North Little Rock's Crestwood Elementary.
Barbara Anderson, the principal at Roberts Elementary and who is retiring at the conclusion of this school year after 42 years as an educator, said her school is using its reward money to order books and other materials for classrooms as well as paying a bonus of about $1,100 to all licensed and support staff in the building.
The eSTEM Public Charter Schools system, like Roberts Elementary, has received the awards for one or more of its schools in previous years.
"Every year we use it on upgrading technology, buying more devices and just keeping up with the times," John Bacon, chief executive officer of the eSTEM Public Charter Schools, said.
Newton said the financial reward system and the school letter grades provide different kinds of information to parents.
"The reward system is very pure -- sheer performance and sheer growth, and graduation rates for high schools," he said. "The grades are more nuanced. It's school quality, it's performance, it's weighted growth -- different kinds of accountability."
The schools receiving A grades in Pulaski County are:
• Academics Plus' Maumelle Charter Elementary and Maumelle Charter High.
• ESTEM's Public Charter elementary, middle and high schools.
• Pulaski County Special's Baker Elementary, Chenal Elementary.
• North Little Rock's Crestwood Elementary.
• Little Rock's Don Roberts Elementary, Forest Heights STEM Academy, Forest Park Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, and Williams Magnet Elementary.
• LISA Academy in Little Rock, LISA Academy North Middle, and LISA Academy North High.
Metro on 05/22/2018