The 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 determined by the school district's board, teachers may receive merit pay based on criteria established by the board.

This change aims to provide school districts with the flexibility to reward teachers for exceptional performance, thereby enhancing the overall quality of education. The introduction of merit pay is intended to incentivize and recognize outstanding teaching efforts within the state's educational system.