HCS HB 385 -- TEACHER SALARY INCENTIVES

SPONSOR:  Cunningham (86)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Education
by a vote of 15 to 8.

This substitute gives school districts the right to include
hiring incentives and other forms of salary schedule
modifications to attract and retain teachers who are certificated
in subject areas that have a teacher shortage as identified by
the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  Hiring
incentives may also be given to teachers who have demonstrated
ability or potential to improve learning in districts that are
unaccredited, provisionally accredited, or have schools
identified as academically deficient.  Teachers may be required
to teach in the district offering the incentive for up to three
years.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that districts need every tool they
can get to attract and retain good teachers.  The bill gives a
safe harbor to districts that want to offer incentives.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Icet; Cooperating
School Districts of Greater St. Louis; Missouri State Teachers
Association; Missouri Council of School Administrators; Missouri
School Boards Association; and Missouri Association of Rural
Educators.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that incentives that
result in differential treatment of teachers can destroy working
relationships in schools.  Incentives need to be equitably
applied.

Testifying against the bill was Missouri National Education
Association.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:11 am