ADE Commissioner Jacob Oliva
Jacob Oliva
Secretary | Read Bio 
Department of Education

Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Computer Science - High-School Computer Science Bonus Program for 2021-2022 Update

Memo Information

Memo Number
COM-22-005
Memo Date
7/8/2021
Memo Type
Informational
Unit
Central Administration
Regulatory Authority
Response Required
NO
Attention
Federal Programs; Superintendents; Assistant Superintendent; Principals; Technology Coordinators; Test Coordinators; General Business Managers; Teachers; Gifted & Talented Coordinators; Curriculum Coordinators; Bookkeepers; School Counselors; Techstart Coordinators or Contact Name; Equity Coordinators (Disability/Race/Gender/National Origin); Data Stewards (SIS; eSchool; eFinance; TRIAND); District Coordinators (ALE; Homeless; ESOL; SDFS & Foster); Parent Involvement Coordinators/Facilitators; CTE Coordinator (COOPs and regular school districts); Facilities / Maintenance Director

Primary Contact Information

Secondary Contact/s Information

Memo Text

This Commissioner’s Memo is intended to provide Arkansas educators with updates to the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Office of Computer Science facilitated Arkansas High School Computer Science Teacher Endorsement and Instruction Bonus Program, which provides eligible high school teachers with up to $10,000 in bonuses over five years.

Changes to this bonus program include: 

  • applications will only be accepted August 15th through September 30th and February 1st through March 15th of each school year, in accordance with Commissioner's Memo (COM-22-001),
  • partial year/criteria applications will no longer be accepted (all applications must be for the full $2000 bonus available each year), and
  • the attestation form has been updated and will be available at http://bit.ly/2ojPLYb once the application window opens.

For a year one bonus in the amount of $2000 an Arkansas High School Computer Science Educator must:

  • hold the 528 Computer Science Endorsement on their Arkansas Educator’s License,
  • be the teacher of record for an approved high school computer science course (465XXX or 565XXX) that has at least 2% of the total high school (9-12) student population, or 10 students, enrolled in the fall semester, and
  • be the teacher of record for an approved high school computer science course (465XXX or 565XXX) that has at least 2% of the total high school (9-12) student population, or 10 students, enrolled in the spring semester.

For a bonus in the amount of $2000 per year for years 2 - 5 an Arkansas High School Computer Science Educator must: 

  • hold the 528 Computer Science Endorsement on their Arkansas Educator’s License,
  • be the teacher of record for an approved high school computer science course (465XXX or 565XXX) that has at least 2% of the total high school (9-12) student population, or 10 students, enrolled in the fall semester, and
  • be the teacher of record for an approved high school computer science course (465XXX or 565XXX) that has at least 2% of the total high school (9-12) student population, or 10 students, enrolled in the spring semester.

As a reminder, applications for bonus payments for years prior to the 2021-2022 school year will no longer be accepted after June 30, 2021.

To apply for the Arkansas High School Computer Science Teacher Endorsement and Instruction Bonus Program payment, educators must complete the application found at: http://bit.ly/HSCSforARBonus

The bonus applicant will be required to upload a single PDF that contains documentation that demonstrates completion of the requirements of the bonus being sought (http://bit.ly/2ojPLYb).

Disbursements of bonuses will be made in accordance with Commissioner's Memo (COM-22-001).

Educators receiving any of these bonuses are not disqualified from 5652 PRAXIS reimbursement.

Funding for this bonus program is provided by the ADE as part of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s Computer Science Initiative. The bonus program is subject to the availability of funding and allowable appropriation of funds. The program may be canceled, and amounts awarded under the program are subject to change, with or without advanced notice at the discretion of ADE.

 

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