On February 20, 2025, the Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard testimony on a committee substitute for SB 26 on teacher compensation (see a summary of SB 26 as filed) by Sen. Brandon Creighton, chair of the committee.
After laying out SB 26, Creighton introduced the substitute, explaining it was filed to “make a couple of adjustments” because of how fast the bill is moving. (The original SB 26 was filed two days before.) One change from the original SB 26 language is that teachers renewing their Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) designation will need to “demonstrate mastery through outcomes with their students.” Creighton said school districts would help determine the “eligibility framework for how it works for that district.”
The substitute bill also removes a reference to national board teacher certification as a pathway to obtaining TIA designation. “We are shifting more toward merit,” Creighton said, “So if national board certification is as high quality as proponents suggest, I’d expect national board certified teachers to earn TIA designation regardless.” He also stated that changes were made to the language in the bill about the new teacher pay allotment the bill creates to ensure raises “actually flow to experienced teachers” and not to administrators or programs.
Testimony was largely focused on TIA, with witnesses providing their experiences with it and the positive outcomes they have seen. There was also discussion about the need for broader compensation strategies that include other essential school staff, such as counselors and special education professionals. Some witnesses emphasized the importance of technical assistance for districts to implement the TIA effectively, especially in rural areas.
The committee unanimously passed the substitute for SB 26 out of committee. It will now go to the full Senate for consideration.
