The SBE must not limit determinations of schools as academically deficient based upon the location of the school or the number of deficient schools in a district. Termination of a tenured teacher's contract will be pursuant to applicable due process as provided by law. School districts making self-determinations of academically deficient schools must establish a program of incentives and rewards for teachers to help improve such schools. A matching grant program to allow schools to choose and implement proven, research-based reforms at the school level is established. Grants are renewable for up to a total of 3 years.
Priority is given to academically deficient schools.
A tax credit, subject to appropriations, for expenses paid for the participation of a student in an approved sponsorship and mentoring program established by a school district is established. The program establishes multiyear teacher-student groupings to be implemented in no fewer than 20 schools in the district in at least 6 classrooms per school for no less than 5 consecutive years. The board will establish procedures for handling student or parent requests that the student be transferred to a different class and to provide for voluntary student participation. Principal tenure in St. Louis City is eliminated, but principals may retain any tenure they earned as a teacher. School districts may exclude transportation expenditures from calculation of current operating costs for certificated staff compensation compliance.