SB 729

Present law requires the commissioner of education to annually formulate a table of training and experience factors and a state salary schedule to be effective for each school year . Present law further requires e ach LEA to establish a lo cal salary schedule for all licensed personnel in the LEA, and the schedule shall include, as a minimum, the same salary level or levels based upon college preparation as established by the state board in the state salary schedule. This bill adds autho rization for LEAs to adopt and implement a merit-based pay structure for educators to award additional compensation to high-performing educators and to incentivize educators to meet and exceed expectations. A merit-based pay structure adopted pursuant to this bill may only result in an increase to the compensation of an educator, whether in the form of a one-time bonus or an increase to the salary payable to the educator in accordance with the salary schedule approved by the commissioner for the LEA for th e respective school year. An LEA may decline to award merit pay in any school year for which the LEA does not receive increased or additional state funds, as compared to a prior year, in an amount sufficient to award merit pay. An LEA is not required to supplement its local expenditures for salaries and wages in any school year in order to continue any merit pay an educator received in a prior school year.