This bill proposes updates to current statutes regarding teacher salaries and funding in Arizona. Under the new provisions, if voters approve an increase to the Permanent State School Fund's annual distribution rate, each school district and charter school would be required to revise their salary schedules to ensure that the base salary of all eligible teachers exceeds the FY 2026 base salary. The bill also prohibits any reductions in the base salary of eligible teachers below the FY 2026 levels and defines "eligible teacher" while establishing criteria for their employment status and performance classifications. Additionally, it creates the Teacher Pay Fund, which will consist of legislative appropriations and distributions from the Permanent State School Fund, and outlines the responsibilities of the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) in administering this fund. Furthermore, the bill introduces compliance and reporting requirements for school districts and charter schools receiving funds from the Teacher Pay Fund, mandating annual reports on expenditures. The ADE, along with the Auditor General, will oversee compliance with the new salary requirements. Charter schools will also be required to include specific information about their salary schedules and the number of eligible teachers in their budgets. In a separate amendment, the bill updates section 15-132 of the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding temporary certificates for exchange teachers and professors by replacing the term "promulgated" with "adopted" and expanding the scope of the temporary certificates to include "PROFESSOR." These changes aim to enhance teacher compensation, ensure accountability in fund usage, and modernize the language of the certification process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-132