PEER Incentives

The PEER Network has awarded $579,250 in Spring 2023 incentive funds to 60 partner schools across Central and Northeast Arkansas. Some schools were eligible for the PEER Winter Interim Assessment School Incentive, which recognizes and rewards partner schools for meeting growth goals in literacy and math. Schools could also earn incentives for the commitment of the school leader to supporting students and teachers in the PEER model. In addition, the PEER Teacher Leader Incentive provides stipends to teachers who assume leadership roles beyond their classroom responsibilities to support other teachers in their schools. 

“The PEER Network has built the capacity of team leaders in our schools to support and affirm school improvement efforts,” said Melissa Gipson, Superintendent of Bald Knob Public Schools. “This intentional effort to distribute leadership within the building is key for us to sustain improvement. The financial incentives provided through the PEER Network allow our students and staff to see firsthand the results of performance. Our teams are anxious to achieve greater heights academically, and our students reap the benefits provided through these funds.”

The PEER Network is a partnership between the Arkansas Public School Resource Center (APSRC) and Crowley’s Ridge Educational Service Cooperative (CRESC). The network is funded by the federal Teacher and School Leader (TSL) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Through the PEER Network, partner schools receive training, coaching, and job-embedded support. Partner schools also receive personalized performance management to ensure schools, school leaders, and teacher leaders meet or exceed their goals. 

The PEER Network employs a Performance-Based Compensation System (PBCS) that provides incentives to schools when they meet their goals. The incentive structure is based on a holistic view of schools that includes student achievement and growth, the development of teacher leaders, the support of school leaders, and the use of recruitment and retention strategies to establish and maintain a diverse and highly qualified staff. The mission of the PEER Network is to meet the unique needs of rural Arkansas schools and build capacity by empowering teacher leaders in a learning community.

For additional information, contact the PEER Project Director, Rachel Horn, at (501) 554-0915, or by email at rhorn@crmail.k12.ar.us.

PEER Incentives

The PEER network utilizes a Performance-Based Compensation System (PBCS) to support and promote educator effectiveness in rural Arkansas schools.  The PEER network PBCS recognizes the skills and knowledge of teachers, principals, and other school leaders as demonstrated through student academic achievement, the successful fulfillment of additional responsibilities or job functions (such as teacher leadership roles), and evidence of professional achievement and mastery of content knowledge.  

Please note: While the PEER network does not prescribe or constrain local uses of funds awarded through incentives, certain data are needed for grant monitoring processes.  The federal grant that provides funding to the PEER network promotes the recruitment and retention of a diverse and high-qualified staff.  By accepting incentive funds, recipients agree to provide information related to the race, gender, and where available, disability status of teachers and school leaders who are impacted by the funds.