AR HB1545

Amends Arkansas Code § 6-17-2402(1) to clarify that teachers in the C-Step Program and Arkansas National Guard Youth Challenge Program are employed under a basic contract of 190 days with 10 days of professional development, plus additional days paid at daily rates under § 6-17-2403 as required for full-time annual employment.

Requires teacher salaries in the C-Step Program and Arkansas National Guard Youth Challenge Program to be calculated and paid under the teacher compensation schedule (§ 6-17-2403), not the state grade classification scale.

Establishes that the Arkansas National Guard budget must include calculation of teacher salaries for C-Step Program and Arkansas National Guard Youth Challenge Program teachers based on § 6-17-2403.

Allows the C-Step Program and Arkansas National Guard Youth Challenge Program to be designated as low-income schools by the Department of Education and receive associated benefits if they meet low-income school criteria.

Clarifies that the bill does not require school districts to pay salaries of non-employee teachers or mandate payment from state funds beyond what the General Assembly appropriates.