Crestwood Elementary School and the North Little Rock Center of Excellence will each receive money through the Arkansas School Recognition Program for either high achievement or showed significant growth on the ATLAS exam, the state-required tests administered to students in grades three through 10.
Crestwood Elementary School received high marks for being in the Top 6%-10% in student performance and will receive $23,604.64. The North Little Rock Center of Excellence will receive $21,748.63 for being in the Top 6%-10% in the growth/graduation category.
The Arkansas School Recognition Program, a component of the Arkansas Department of Education, provides funds to schools for achievement in growth and performance. In all, more than 174 public schools across the state are poised to receive reward money, which can be used on faculty and staff bonuses, educational equipment and materials, or personnel to assist with improving or maintaining student performance. Staff will form committees to decide how the money will be spent.
Ark. Code Ann. §6-15-2107 authorizes financial rewards of up to $100 per student for public schools and public charter schools ranking in the top 5% of all Arkansas public schools based on student performance or academic growth, including high school graduation rates for secondary schools. The criteria for determining eligibility are established by the State Board of Education.
Additionally, schools ranking in the top 6%-10% are eligible for rewards of up to $50 per enrolled student, following the same criteria set by the State Board of Education.
This year, the Arkansas School Recognition Program awarded nearly $7 million to schools.