Spark Symposium
Charter School Awards
APSRC is excited to recognize the exceptional contributions of charter schools, their leaders, partners, supporters, and advocates who are making a lasting impact on the charter school community.
We’re excited to honor innovation, growth, and dedication with a range of awards. Some are chosen through community nominations, while others are carefully selected by APSRC staff based on specific criteria.
Nomination-Based Awards:
Changemaker Awards
Teacher of the Year
Trailblazer Award
APSRC-Designated Awards:
School Growth Awards
Elevate Awards
Charter Leader
Hall of Fame
Lifetime Achievement
Nomination Based Awards Information & Criteria
The following awards are open for nomination: Changemaker Awards, Teacher of the Year, and Trailblazer Award. The deadline to submit nominations for these three awards is April 20th, 2025.
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The Arkansas Charter School Changemaker Awards will be presented annually to recognize outstanding individuals who are making positive change in their school communities. The nominations should highlight the meaningful impact the candidate is making in their charter schools. Open-enrollment and district-conversion charter staff may be nominated.
Nominate your charter school staff members today and tell us about the impact they're making in their schools! The deadline to submit your nomination is April 20, 2025.
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APSRC is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Arkansas Charter School Teacher of the Year. Each public charter school campus in Arkansas may select one teacher as its Charter School Teacher of the Year and nominate that teacher for this award.
Please read the candidate criteria before submitting your nomination.
Candidates must meet the following minimum criteria:
Must be skillful and dedicated teachers in grades kindergarten through 12.
Must be engaged directly in instruction in a classroom setting for more than 70 percent of the individual's contracted time.
Instructional Facilitators must be engaged directly in instruction with students in a classroom setting for more than seventy percent (70%) of the individual’s contracted time to qualify.
Librarians and Guidance Counselors are eligible to participate.
Administrators are not eligible.
This recognition is not tied to the DESE's Arkansas Teacher of the Year or the National Teacher of the Year programs. The deadline to submit your nomination is April 20, 2025.
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The Arkansas Charter School Trailblazer Awards will be presented annually to recognize outstanding schools that are implementing innovative best practices. The schools nominated should be helping "blaze a trail" for charters schools across the State and Nation as they branch out and explore new strategies. Open-enrollment and district-conversion charter schools may be nominated.
Nominate your charter school today and tell us about the innovation that's occurring in your schools! The deadline to submit your nomination is April 20, 2025.
APSRC Designated Awards
These awards are carefully selected by APSRC staff based on specific criteria, highlighting those who exemplify excellence and dedication to the charter school movement.
School Growth Awards
Based on student growth on the ACT Aspire exams in Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA). Elementary, Middle and High School level.
Elevate Awards
Designated for schools whose students are demonstrating high academic growth despite serving an educationally challenged population. Elementary, Middle, and High School level.
Charter Leader
Designated for individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership in guiding their charter schools or organizations towards success, inspiring others, and fostering an environment of growth and innovation.
Hall of Fame
The Arkansas Charter School Hall of Fame will include individuals and organizations that have pioneered the development and growth of charter schools, implemented innovative ideas, and inspired others in the movement. From those who are inducted this year, one will be chosen to receive the Arkansas Charter School Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lifetime Achievement
The Arkansas Charter School Lifetime Achievement Award will be granted to an extraordinary individual who has dedicated tireless passion to supporting charter schools and dedicated his/her life to accomplishing significant results for the charter school movement.
Event Details
Tuesday, May 20th, 2025
State House Convention Center