Missouri Revised Statutes Title XI. Education and Libraries § 168.747. Eligibility for compensation package

1. To be eligible for the teacher choice compensation package, all classroom personnel in a metropolitan school district reported as a code forty, fifty, or sixty through the core data system of the department of elementary and secondary education shall opt out of his or her indefinite contract under section 168.221 for the duration of employment with the district. A teacher may decide to end his or her eligibility for the teacher choice stipend but may not resume permanent teacher status with that district. A probationary teacher may opt out of consideration for a permanent contract in the second or subsequent years of employment by the district to participate in the teacher choice compensation package but may not return to permanent status in that district or resume the process for qualification for an indefinite contract in that district. A teacher who has chosen the teacher choice compensation package and changes employment to another district may choose to resume the process for qualification for an indefinite contract in that district. The teacher choice compensation package shall only be available for teachers in a metropolitan school district.

2. Teachers shall qualify annually in October for the stipends described in section 168.749. Stipends shall be offered in five thousand dollar increments, up to fifteen thousand dollars, but shall not exceed fifty percent of a teacher's base salary, before deductions for retirement but including designated pay for additional duties such as coaching, sponsoring, or mentoring. Any stipend received under section 168.749 shall be in addition to the base salary to which the teacher would otherwise be entitled. Teachers receiving the stipend shall receive any pay and benefits received by teachers of similar training, experience, and duties. Such stipends shall not be considered compensation for retirement purposes.

3. Subject to appropriation, the department of elementary and secondary education shall make a payment to the district in the amount of the stipend, to be delivered as a lump sum in January following the October of qualification. If the amount appropriated is not enough to fund the total of five thousand dollar increment payments, the department may prorate the payments.

4. Every person employed by the district in a teaching position, regardless of the certification status of the person, who qualifies under any of the indicators listed in section 168.749 is eligible for the teacher choice compensation package. Teachers who are employed less than full-time are eligible for teacher choice stipends on a prorated basis. Any teacher who is dismissed for cause who has otherwise qualified for a teacher choice stipend shall forfeit the stipend for that year.