Education Bill Would Raise Teacher Pay, Boost Aid For Five-Day Weeks

A sweeping education bill was passed out of the Missouri Senate last week that would boost teacher pay, provide more aid to schools that maintain five-day weeks and tweak the funding formula with a “weighted average daily attendance.”

The bill passed by a 20-13 vote on March 12. Three Republicans — Justin Brown (Rolla), Mike Moon (Ash Grove) and Elaine Gannon (De Soto) — sided with 10 Democrats in opposing the legislation. 

Gannon represents Crawford County in the state senate.

On Thursday, the vote was perfected and sent to the House for further consideration.

Brown and Moon flipped their votes and Gannon was absent.

Teacher pay is one of the most key provisions in the bill.

Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, the minimum teacher’s salary would rise from $25,000 to $40,000.

For teachers with a master’s degree and at least 10 years of experience, the minimum would rise from $33,000 to $46,000.

Further increases would be scheduled in by $1,000 year until the 2027-28 school year, when the minimum rises to $48,000.

Beginning in the 2028-29 school year, the minimum salaries for teachers will be adjusted annually by the  consumer price index (CPI). 

SB727 also targets the ever-growing popularity of four-day school weeks.

Beginning in 2026-27, school districts located in counties or cities with ore than 30,000 residents may adopt a four-day school week by a majority of district voters.

The bill also gives a 1% increase for schools with a five-day week in 2026 and 2027 and 2 percent for 2028 and beyond.

Funds must be used to increase teacher salaries.