HB 2210 creates a state "Matching Grants for Teachers Plan Fund" to help school districts increase teacher salaries using their own reserve funds. School districts can withdraw money from their reserves for salary increases and receive state matching funds equal to that amount, up to $1 million annually per district. To qualify, districts must maintain at least $100,000 in reserves, cannot deplete reserves below state minimums, and must use existing interest earnings from school funds to supplement salary increases (not replace them). The bill ensures unspent fund balances do not revert to general revenue and requires districts to deposit interest into reserves.
HB 2115 requires all elementary schools in the district to teach cursive writing, ensuring students can produce legible cursive documents by the end of fifth grade. It mandates that each student pass a teacher-created test demonstrating proficiency in both reading and writing cursive. The bill directly affects elementary students and schools, setting a specific academic benchmark for cursive skills. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may create rules to implement these requirements, subject to standard regulatory processes.
HB 2112 creates Missouri's "Teachers Matter Grant Program," providing financial incentives for teachers to engage in voluntary extra duties beyond their regular contracts. Qualified teachers (with valid licenses, satisfactory evaluations, and no existing salary supplements) earn up to $4,000 total through two $2,000 payments: the first after 40+ hours of self-directed work (like coaching, mentoring, or test prep) between December and January, and the second after another 40 hours between May and June. School districts match state funds for district grants ($1,000 each), but teachers must document their extra hours via written agreements and logs. The program expires after six years unless renewed by the legislature.
HB 2197 modifies how school principals, assistant principals, and superintendents are evaluated and contracted. It requires annual performance evaluations using student growth data and research-based tools, with written evaluations maintained in personnel files. The bill mandates school districts to notify building-level administrators of contract renewal or nonrenewal by February 15, with automatic renewal if notice is missed, and restricts nonrenewal to specific "for cause" reasons like poor performance or policy violations. Administrators facing nonrenewal gain due process rights, including written reasons, a hearing, and a 30-day school board decision.
SB 1383 requires all elementary schools in the state to implement an agricultural education program that was previously tested as a pilot. This bill directly affects every public elementary school and its students by mandating the inclusion of agricultural education in their curriculum. The key provision is the statewide expansion of the pilot program, moving it from a limited trial to a required statewide standard. The bill does not specify curriculum details or funding mechanisms, only the requirement for implementation.
HB 2534 requires all Missouri teacher education programs to include at least three credit hours of coursework on social and emotional learning (SEL) and social work in education. It also mandates that licensed teachers complete at least three hours of annual professional development in these areas through school district training. The bill directly affects teacher training institutions, current educators, and school districts by establishing concrete requirements for both initial teacher preparation and ongoing professional development. These provisions aim to integrate SEL and social work skills into educator training and practice, with specific credit hour and training hour requirements.
HB 2396 allows retired licensed teachers and non-licensed school staff to return to full-time work without losing retirement benefits, but only in school districts with verified teacher or staff shortages. Retired teachers can teach up to 4 years (max 1% of staff or 5 people), and retired non-licensed staff can work up to 4 years (max 10% of non-licensed staff or 5 people), provided districts first try hiring non-retirees and document a critical shortage. The hiring school district pays the retirement contribution cost, and retirees earn salary matching comparable positions (minus a retirement contribution percentage). This law applies to districts covered by specific retirement systems and requires districts to follow strict hiring steps before employing retirees.
