The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is pleased to announce that a total of $6,871,250 will be awarded to 159 schools through the Arkansas School Recognition Program. Awards are based on student assessment results from the 2020-21 school year and graduation rates from the 2019-20 school year.

The Arkansas School Recognition Program (Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-2107) provides financial awards to the top 10 percent of public schools that achieve high student performance on the state-required assessments in grades 3 through 10 and the top 10 percent of public schools that achieve high student academic growth, including high school graduation rates where applicable.

Schools receiving recognition funds are required to establish a committee to determine the best use of the funds. The committee includes the principal, a teacher elected by the faculty, and a parent representative selected by the local Parent Teacher Association or another parental involvement group. Districts and schools do not have to submit documents to DESE but should keep on file the committee agenda, minutes, sign-in sheets, and documentation on how the recognition funds were spent for auditors.

The totals for each category are listed below. To see the complete list of schools and amounts they are eligible to receive, go to Reward Schools 2021.