168.747. Eligibility for compensation package. - Missouri Statutes

Eligibility for compensation package.

168.747. 1. To be eligible for the teacher choice compensationpackage, all classroom personnel in a metropolitan school district reportedas a code forty, fifty, or sixty through the core data system of thedepartment of elementary and secondary education shall opt out of his orher indefinite contract under section 168.221 for the duration ofemployment with the district. A teacher may decide to end his or hereligibility for the teacher choice stipend but may not resume permanentteacher status with that district. A probationary teacher may opt out ofconsideration for a permanent contract in the second or subsequent years ofemployment by the district to participate in the teacher choicecompensation package but may not return to permanent status in thatdistrict or resume the process for qualification for an indefinite contractin that district. A teacher who has chosen the teacher choice compensationpackage and changes employment to another district may choose to resume theprocess for qualification for an indefinite contract in that district. Theteacher choice compensation package shall only be available for teachers ina metropolitan school district.

2. Teachers shall qualify annually in October for the stipendsdescribed in section 168.749. Stipends shall be offered in five thousanddollar increments, up to fifteen thousand dollars, but shall not exceedfifty percent of a teacher's base salary, before deductions for retirementbut including designated pay for additional duties such as coaching,sponsoring, or mentoring. Any stipend received under section 168.749 shallbe in addition to the base salary to which the teacher would otherwise beentitled. Teachers receiving the stipend shall receive any pay andbenefits received by teachers of similar training, experience, and duties.Such stipends shall not be considered compensation for retirement purposes.

3. Subject to appropriation, the department of elementary andsecondary education shall make a payment to the district in the amount ofthe stipend, to be delivered as a lump sum in January following the Octoberof qualification. If the amount appropriated is not enough to fund thetotal of five thousand dollar increment payments, the department mayprorate the payments.

4. Every person employed by the district in a teaching position,regardless of the certification status of the person, who qualifies underany of the indicators listed in section 168.749 is eligible for the teacherchoice compensation package. Teachers who are employed less than full-timeare eligible for teacher choice stipends on a prorated basis. Any teacherwho is dismissed for cause who has otherwise qualified for a teacher choicestipend shall forfeit the stipend for that year.

(L. 2009 S.B. 291)