This bill amends the Arkansas Teacher of the Year Act to allow the governing bodies of open-enrollment public charter schools to submit applicants for consideration alongside traditional school districts. Specifically, it modifies the application process to enable both school district boards and charter school governing bodies to submit a single applicant for the Arkansas Teacher of the Year. The bill also clarifies that if an applicant from either type of school is selected, that teacher will be placed on paid administrative leave for the following school year, and the school will be reimbursed for the teacher's salary and benefits during this period.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of both school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools regarding the selection of the Arkansas Teacher of the Year. It mandates that these schools provide a replacement teacher or adjust class loads while the selected teacher is on leave. The legislation ensures that the administrative leave provisions are reflected in the contracts of classroom teachers and removes any earning limitations for substitute teachers filling in for the Arkansas Teacher of the Year. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the inclusivity of the Arkansas Teacher of the Year selection process while ensuring that selected teachers receive the necessary support during their tenure.

Statutes affected:
HB 1477: 6-17-2503(b), 6-17-2503(f), 6-17-2504, 6-17-2505(a)
Act 303: 6-17-2503(b), 6-17-2503(f), 6-17-2504, 6-17-2505(a)