SPONSOR: Lewis
This bill clarifies language relating to additional funding for teacher salaries that districts receive if the district has a school calendar with 169 school days. The clarification provided allows for inclement weather or authorized reductions to the number of days the district must be in session to qualify for the funding (Section 163.045 RSMo).
The bill modifies the minimum teacher salary to remove the requirement that a teacher's master's degree must be in an academic teaching field directly related to the teacher's assignment. Additionally, the bill delays increases to the minimum salaries due to inflation until 2030 and only authorizes increases due to inflation from 2030 to 2035.
Beginning in 2030-31 the bill limits grants authorized under the "Teacher Baseline Salary Grant Program" to 50% of the amount necessary for a district to increase minimum teacher's salaries to meet the threshold set. The remaining 50% must be spent by the district from the Classroom Trust Fund moneys unless the fund is expended and then the district may receive additional grant funding.
The bill adds an expiration to the grant program of June 30, 2035 unless the program is reauthorized (Section 163.172).
Statutes affected: