Teacher Pension CalculatorPlain-English estimates for Arkansas teachers and school employeesUnofficial
Arkansas · ATRS · Methods and sources

How we estimate Arkansas ATRS pensions

Every number on the Arkansas pages comes from a publication of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS), its rules (24 CAR Part 10), its actuary's valuation, or Arkansas DFA. Here's what the calculator does, and what it leaves out.

This page explains the Arkansas ATRS calculator. The rules it uses are in plain English on the benefit formula, early retirement and T-DROP pages.

  1. 1

    Project your service

    We add the time from today to your retirement date to the service you enter, a quarter-year for each 3 months, as ATRS credits service in quarters. Retirement dates move to the 1st of a month.

    Member Handbook p. 41, Appendix A - Service Credit Calculation (after July 1, 2011); p. 11; 24 CAR § 10-402(b), (e); 24 CAR § 10-601(6)
  2. 2

    Check the retirement rules

    Full benefit at age 60 once vested (5 years of actual plus reciprocal service), or with 28 years at any age. Early with 25 to 27.75 years before 60.

    Member Handbook p. 21, When am I eligible for full Age and Service Retirement?; p. 5; p. 52, Glossary, Age and Service Retirement; 24 CAR § 10-605(b)(1); Member Handbook p. 21, When am I eligible for Early Age and Service Retirement?; p. 53, Glossary; 24 CAR § 10-605(b)(2); Member Handbook p. 5, Vesting; p. 11, What does it mean to be a vested member of ATRS?; p. 12, Can I use purchased service credit ... to become vested? (No); p. 42, Appendix B
  3. 3

    Split your service

    Contributory and noncontributory years, and years before and after July 1, 2018, each get their own multiplier. With 10+ years of actual and reciprocal service, contributory years earn 2.15%. If you don't tell us the split, we assume all years are contributory and, under 10 years, that you worked full time since you joined.

    artrs.gov/multiplier (retrieved 2026-11-11); Actuarial valuation 2025 p. C-3, item 6 (Board Resolutions 2017-31 and 2017-32); artrs.gov/multiplier ('Retiring with 10 years or more of actual/reciprocal service: Contributory: 2.15%'); 2026 Retirement Planner p. 10 (Contributory Multiplier, 10 or more years of service credit: 2.15%)
  4. 4

    Apply the formula

    Years × multiplier × your final average salary, summed. Early retirement cuts it 0.8333% for each month short of 28 years or of age 60, whichever is fewer. Then we add the $50 stipend with 10+ years of actual service. That's the straight life annuity.

    Member Handbook p. 6, Retirement Benefit Calculation; p. 26, Benefit Amount; 24 CAR § 10-610(b); Actuarial valuation 2025 p. C-1, item 2 (10/12 of 1% per month; Board set 10% per year from Aug. 1, 2017 by Resolution 2017-14; Board may set 5%-15% per year); Member Handbook p. 26, What is a retirement benefit stipend?; p. 12; 2026 Retirement Planner p. 10
  5. 5

    T-DROP

    The first July 1 you'd have 28 and 30 years, the deposit (your benefit less 1% a year of service, and 6% a year short of 30), and a 10-year illustration at 3% interest.

    Member Handbook p. 17, T-DROP Enrollment; p. 18; 24 CAR § 10-703(a); 2026 Retirement Planner pp. 2, 4; T-DROP pamphlet p. 2; Member Handbook p. 17, How does T-DROP work?; 2026 Retirement Planner p. 4; T-DROP pamphlet p. 2; 24 CAR §§ 10-704(c), 10-705(b); Member Handbook p. 17; T-DROP pamphlet p. 2, How much Interest does T-DROP Earn?; 2026 Retirement Planner p. 10 (Regular T-DROP Interest rate 3%); 24 CAR § 10-706(a), (c)
  6. 6

    Options and the COLA

    Options A, B and C use ATRS's "about" percentages and are always labelled approximate. The first 3% simple COLA comes the July 1 after a full fiscal year retired.

    Member Handbook p. 24, What is a straight life annuity?; 24 CAR § 10-613(a)(1); Member Handbook pp. 24-25, What is an Option A annuity?; 2026 Retirement Planner p. 7; 24 CAR § 10-613(a)(2)(B)(i), (b); Member Handbook p. 25, What is an Option B annuity?; 2026 Retirement Planner p. 7; 24 CAR § 10-613(a)(2)(B)(ii); Member Handbook p. 25, What is an Option C annuity?; 2026 Retirement Planner p. 7; 24 CAR § 10-613(a)(2)(B)(iii); Member Handbook p. 26, Will my monthly retirement benefit remain the same for the rest of my life?; p. 5; p. 52, Glossary, Cost of Living Adjustment; General Info pamphlet p. 2; 2026 Retirement Planner p. 3

What the calculator doesn't cover

How we check the math

The calculator runs on a small engine that reads every rule from one data file, with a source for each. Automated tests check it against the worked examples in ATRS's actuarial valuation and handbook, and against the edges of each rule (birthdays, 25, 28 and 30 years, the 10-year line, July 1, 2018). The tests run every time the site is built.

Actuary's example: 32 years, $35,000 FAS (a year)
Source
$22,750
Our engine
$22,750
Result
Match
Actuarial valuation 2025 p. C-11
Same, Option A factor 0.78571 plus stipend (a year)
Source
$18,475
Our engine
$18,475
Result
Match
Actuarial valuation 2025 p. C-11
Same, year 2 with the 3% COLA
Source
$19,011
Our engine
$19,011
Result
Match
Actuarial valuation 2025 p. C-11
Actuary's T-DROP example: 28 years, first-year deposit
Source
$13,350
Our engine
$13,350
Result
Match
Actuarial valuation 2025 p. C-12 (G = 0.28 x (E+F); H = 0.12 x (E+F-G))
Same, five years of deposits
Source
$70,756
Our engine
$70,756
Result
Match
Actuarial valuation 2025 p. C-12 (G = 0.28 x (E+F); H = 0.12 x (E+F-G))
Handbook: 28 years × 2.15% (share of pay)
Source
about 60%
Our engine
60.2%
Result
Match
Member Handbook p. 49, The Ultramarathon: 28 years of service credit

Things to check with ATRS

The sources don't settle these points. Each is labelled "Check with ATRS" where it shows up on the site.

Check with ATRS

The handbook gives 10% per year (lesser of years short of 28 service or of age 60); the valuation gives 10/12 of 1% per month. Our calculator counts whole months from the retirement date to the 60th birthday (rounded up) and months short of 28 years from service in quarter-years. ATRS may round age months differently.

What would settle it: A.C.A. § 24-7-702 (blocked, see DOWNLOADS.md) or an ATRS early retirement estimate.
Check with ATRS

Deferred members get benefits 'the first month after turning age 60'. Our calculator treats age 60 as met on a 1st-of-month retirement date on or after the 60th birthday for active members, and the first of the month after the birthday for deferred members. A member born on the 1st may be treated differently by ATRS.

What would settle it: A.C.A. §§ 24-7-701, 24-7-707 or ATRS confirmation.
Check with ATRS

artrs.gov/multiplier counts 'actual/reciprocal service' toward the 10-year threshold; the planner says '10 or more years of service credit'. Our calculator uses actual + reciprocal (purchased excluded) and needs the member's service split by date (before/after July 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019); if no split is given it assumes contributory service and, under 10 years, service after July 1, 2018.

What would settle it: A.C.A. § 24-7-705 or the ATRS annual statement / benefit estimate showing the multiplier split.
Check with ATRS

ATRS publishes no option factors, only approximate reductions (A about 18%, B about 10%, C about 4%) and one actuarial example (Option A, member 60 / spouse 55: 0.78571). Our calculator shows approximate amounts only, clearly labelled.

What would settle it: ATRS's option factor table or a Member Portal benefit estimate with all four options.
Check with ATRS

See conflict anti-spiking-wording; also how the '8 years from the base salary year' test and partial years interact.

What would settle it: A.C.A. § 24-7-736 text or an ATRS FAS worksheet.
Check with ATRS

Interest is credited each June 30 'on the mean balance'. Our calculator's illustration credits rate x (opening balance + half the year's deposits). The exact mean-balance method and any incentive rate for 2026-2027 aren't published in our sources.

What would settle it: ATRS T-DROP statement or the Board resolution setting 2026-2027 T-DROP interest.
Check with ATRS

The handbook says a mix of contributory and noncontributory service is 'prorated'. Our calculator uses the actuary's formula ($6,667 + $333.30 per contributory year, max $10,000; $666.60 per year for those retired on or before July 1, 2007). Whether 'contributory year' means actual contributory years only is not stated.

What would settle it: Board Resolution 2020-27 or A.C.A. § 24-7-720.
Check with ATRS

Child survivor amounts come only from the actuary's summary (p. C-5); the handbook gives no amounts.

What would settle it: A.C.A. § 24-7-710 (blocked).
Check with ATRS

ATRS sources only refer retirees to EBD/ARBenefits; nothing on the public school (PSE) retiree plan, premiums or eligibility.

What would settle it: EBD's retiree benefits guide from my.arbenefits.org.
Check with ATRS

No ATRS source states whether ATRS members are also covered by Social Security.

What would settle it: An ATRS or Arkansas Section 218 agreement publication.

Where sources disagreed

Sources

We cite the page number printed on each document (the C-pages of the actuarial valuation), or the section of ATRS's rules. The Arkansas Code itself wasn't reachable, so statute numbers come from ATRS documents that cite them. Last reviewed Nov. 12, 2026.

Found a mistake?Email hello@teacherpensioncalculator.com with the page, what you entered, and what ATRS told you. We fix confirmed errors and note the change.
The official numbersOnly ATRS can tell you your actual benefit. Use the estimator in the ATRS Member Portal, ask ATRS for an estimate, or call 501-682-1517.

Source: ATRS Member Handbook, 2026-2027 school year (current as of July 2026), pp. 5, 6, 11, 12, 17, 18, 21, 24, 24-25, 25, 26, 41, 42, 49, 52, 53. Also: artrs.gov/multiplier; Actuarial valuation 2025 pp. C-1, C-3, C-11, C-12; 2026 Retirement Planner pp. 2, 3, 4, 7, 10; T-DROP pamphlet p. 2; General Info pamphlet p. 2; ATRS rules, 24 CAR §§ 10-402, 10-601, 10-605, 10-610, 10-613, 10-703, 10-704, 10-705, 10-706. Last reviewed .