For years, those hoping to reform education in Arkansas advocated for bonuses to be paid to the best schools and teachers—in the form of merit pay, because it was thought that rewarding excellence would improve schools. Then somebody thought about rewarding schools that not only performed the best—as measured by student test scores—but rewarding the schools that made the most improvement, too. Thus was born the Arkansas School Recognition Program.
Such programs have been in the law in one form or another for years. Governor Mike Beebe began funding this program, often out of discretionary funds. But now this is an annual initiative— and one of the best investments out of the billions this state alone spends on K-12 education. Last week, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Education Commissioner Johnny Key handed out $7 million to 175 schools around the state. For years the state focused on punishing schools for low performance. So it is a welcome change to reward schools that excel. Principals and teachers also get a kick out of being recognized for their best efforts—and should be more often.
The state measured the 2018 ACT Aspire Exams from the spring, and handed out rewards to those districts that did the best. The law says that financial awards are given to the top 5 percent and 10 percent of the top academic performing schools, and the top 5 percent and 10 percent of schools that made the most improvement from the prior year. The money can be used for staff bonuses, equipment or hiring extra help, with all those decisions made at the local school.
One school, Roberts Elementary in Little Rock, was given nearly $185,000 because it ranked on both scales: best and most improved. Several schools in Cabot and Bismarck were singled out in both categories, too.
(Here’s an idea: If we can’t bottle what’s going on at Roberts Elementary, Cabot and Bismarck, why not have teachers there spread out across the state, to show how it’s done?)
In the news last week, and often enough most weeks, were the stories about bad news in our public education system. Failing schools, poor test scores, teachers fighting with administrators and/or the state. But every once in a while—at least once a year when these reward checks are cut—the good news will out.
Congratulations all around. And not just to those hard-working teachers, principals and students, but to our political leaders who know a good program when they fund it.