Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to establish minimum compensation and wage levels for teachers and certain unlicensed school staff in Minnesota. It is intended to ensure fair pay for educators and support staff, potentially attracting and retaining quality personnel in schools.

Main Provisions

• Base Teacher Compensation: Starting July 1, 2026, full-time equivalent teachers must receive a salary not less than specified thresholds, which are:

  • $80,000 for those with a master's degree.
  • $100,000 for those with a master's degree and at least ten years of experience.
  • $60,000 for teachers who do not meet these criteria.

• Unlicensed Staff Wages: From July 1, 2026, unlicensed staff working at least 14 hours per week must receive at least $25 per hour.

• Inflation Adjustments: The compensation thresholds will be adjusted for inflation every four years, with changes reflecting the Consumer Price Index.

• Aid Programs: Districts will receive financial aid to meet these new compensation and wage standards. The aids will be based on the difference between current salaries and the new thresholds.

• Collective Bargaining: The obligations for districts to collectively bargain with teachers' representatives remain unchanged by this bill.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces guaranteed minimum compensation levels for educators and certain school staff.
• Establishes a mechanism to adjust compensation for inflation, a factor not consistently considered in previous statutes.
• Provides specific financial support to districts to implement these compensation increases.

Relevant Terms

• Base teacher compensation
• Unlicensed staff wage threshold
• Full-time equivalent teacher
• Teacher compensation threshold
• Inflationary adjustment
• Collective bargaining