This bill proposes the addition of a new section to chapter 13-13 of South Dakota law, allowing for merit pay to be included as part of teacher compensation. Specifically, it states that, in addition to the salary amounts set by school district boards, teachers may receive merit pay determined by those boards.

The introduction of merit pay aims to incentivize and reward teachers based on performance, thereby enhancing the overall quality of education. This change reflects a shift towards a more performance-based compensation model within the state's educational system.