Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-2504: School district responsibility

(a) Each school district whose applicant is selected as Arkansas Teacher of the Year shall place that teacher on paid administrative leave for the school year immediately following the teacher's selection as Arkansas Teacher of the Year for the time period that the teacher actually serves as the Arkansas Teacher of the Year.

(b) The teacher shall be entitled to return to his or her former employment with the school district for the school year following the paid administrative leave provisions of this section.

(c) The school district shall be responsible for providing a replacement teacher or restructuring class loads during the school year in which the teacher selected as Arkansas Teacher of the Year is on administrative leave.

(d) A school district that employs a substitute teacher to replace the Arkansas Teacher of the Year shall not be subject to any earning limitations set in place by law or the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.

(e) Each school district classroom teacher contract shall reflect the administrative leave provisions of this section for any teacher selected as Arkansas Teacher of the Year.