§ 6-15-2606 - Contents of Rewarding Excellence in Achievement plans. - Arkansas Statutes

6-15-2606. Contents of Rewarding Excellence in Achievement plans.

(a) A Rewarding Excellence in Achievement plan approved for participation in the Rewarding Excellence in Achievement Program shall describe how:

(1) Teachers can achieve career advancement and additional compensation;

(2) The public school district or public charter school will provide teachers with career advancement options that allow teachers to retain primary roles in student instruction and facilitate site-focused professional development that helps other teachers improve their skills;

(3) The public school district or public charter school will prevent any teacher's compensation paid before implementing the pay system from being reduced as a result of initial implementation of the Rewarding Excellence in Achievement plan;

(4) The forty percent (40%) to sixty percent (60%) performance portion of compensation will be determined;

(5) The forty percent (40%) to sixty percent (60%) knowledge and skill base portion of compensation will be determined;

(6) The plan will reform the steps and lanes salary schedule;

(7) The public school district or public charter school will encourage a collaborative relationship among teachers; and

(8) After full plan implementation, the alternative compensation system will be:

(A) Sustained; or

(B) Phased out if the Rewarding Excellence in Achievement plan evaluation reveals that the plan does not work for the school.

(b) Rewarding Excellence in Achievement plans approved for participation in the Rewarding Excellence in Achievement Program may include provisions regarding the compensation for administrators and other staff members.

(c) Compensation increases for the performance portion of compensation, forty percent (40%) to sixty percent (60%) of the teacher's total compensation, under the Rewarding Excellence in Achievement plan shall include:

(1) (A) Achievement gains of students in each teacher's class on student scores under the statewide assessment program described in 6-15-433.

(B) Locally selected and Department of Education-approved standardized assessment outcomes for students in each teacher's class may also be included;

(2) Achievement gains of students on a school-wide basis under the statewide assessment program described in 6-15-433. Locally selected and Department of Education-approved standardized assessment outcomes may also be included; and

(3) The remaining percentage of the performance portion of compensation of the teacher's total compensation shall be based on an objective teacher evaluation program that includes:

(A) An individual objective teacher evaluation conducted by the school principal that is aligned with the comprehensive school improvement plan and professional development plan described in 6-15-2607; and

(B) Peer objective evaluations using multiple criteria conducted by locally selected and periodically trained evaluators that understand teaching and learning and that include provisions for integrated ongoing site-based professional development activities to improve instructional skills and learning that are aligned with student needs under 6-15-2009.