VA
Virginia Senate Bill SB829

Virginia 2025 Regular Session

Virginia Senate Bill SB829

Introduced
12/31/24  
Refer
12/31/24  

Caption

Professionally Licensed Teacher Supplemental Pay Program; established, report.

Impact

The bill serves a crucial role in revitalizing teacher staffing in areas facing the most significant challenges. By categorizing schools with the highest vacancy rates as 'high-vacancy public schools', the legislation focuses resources where they are most needed. The supplemental pay will be structured as part of teachers' annual salaries, ensuring it is treated as legitimate income rather than a temporary incentive. This approach may contribute to a more stable and sustainable teaching workforce and positively impact teacher morale and student achievement in those districts.

Summary

Senate Bill 829, introduced in the Virginia General Assembly, establishes the Professionally Licensed Teacher Supplemental Pay Program. This program aims to address the chronic shortage of professionally licensed teachers in high-vacancy public schools across the Commonwealth. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, teachers employed in these identified high-vacancy schools will receive an annual supplemental payment of $10,000. This financial support is intended to attract and retain qualified teachers, addressing the reliance on provisionally licensed teachers, and ultimately improving educational outcomes in underserved areas.

Contention

While the program is designed to mitigate staffing shortages, there may be concerns regarding its long-term sustainability and funding. Critics of the bill may argue that simply providing financial incentives does not address underlying issues contributing to teacher shortages, such as working conditions, administrative support, and overall job satisfaction. Further, the requirement for annual reporting and data collection by school boards may add an additional layer of administrative burden on educational institutions already facing challenges, which could provoke debate on the efficiency of such measures.

Latest SB829 Activity

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Similar Bills

VA HB1890

Public school teachers; teacher compensation; Professionally Licensed Teacher Supplemental Pay Program established.

IA HF914

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to the duties and powers of area education agencies, the department of education, and area education agency funding, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

IA SF2021

A bill for an act relating to funding calculations for the teacher salary supplement, professional development supplement, early intervention supplement, and teacher leadership supplement for school districts that materially breach an interscholastic sharing agreement, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

IA SF375

A bill for an act establishing a low-income enrollment categorical funding supplement for school districts and including applicability provisions.

LA SB286

Requires the Dept. of Education to reimburse local school boards for salary supplements paid to certain nationally board certified school personnel. (gov sig) (EG +$16,250,000 GF EX See Note)

LA SB489

Requires the Department of Education to reimburse local school boards for salary supplements paid to certain nationally board certified school personnel. (gov sig) (OR +$16,250,000 GF EX See Note)

IA HF2612

A bill for an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to the duties and powers of area education agencies, the membership of the boards of directors of area education agencies, the department of education, area education agency funding, the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil and minimum teacher salaries, Iowa public employees' retirement system bona fide retirement requirements, and property tax replacement payments, establishing the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth for supplemental state aid calculations for the budget year beginning July 1, 2024, and including transition, effective date, and applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 713.) Effective date: 03/27/2024, 07/01/2024, 07/01/2025. Applicability date: 07/01/2024, 07/01/2025.

LA SR191

Requests the governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school to consider implementation of the salary supplement, as provided in law, in the form of a salary increase for certain national board certified school personnel.