Section 281.98.25. Teacher leadership supplement.

The purpose of the teacher leadership supplement is to improve instruction and elevate the quality of teaching and student learning.

         98.25(1) Appropriate uses of categorical funding. Appropriate uses of teacher leadership supplement funding shall be used only to increase the payment for a teacher assigned to a leadership role pursuant to a framework or comparable system approved pursuant to Iowa Code section 284.15; to increase the percentages of teachers assigned to leadership roles; to increase the minimum teacher starting salary to $33,500; to cover the costs for the time mentor and lead teachers are not providing instruction to students in a classroom; for coverage of a classroom when an initial or career teacher is observing or co-teaching with a teacher assigned to a leadership role; for professional development time to learn best practices associated with the career pathways leadership process; and for other costs associated with a framework or comparable system approved by the department of education under Iowa Code section 284.15 with the goals of improving instruction and elevating the quality of teaching and student learning. “Payment for a teacher” as used in this rule means additional salary for teachers and the amount required to pay the employer’s share of the federal social security and Iowa public employees’ retirement system, or a pension and annuity retirement system established under Iowa Code chapter 294. Appropriate uses also include payments to another school district or districts as negotiated in a whole grade sharing agreement pursuant to Iowa Code section 282.10(4) and payment to another school district receiving an open enrolled student pursuant to Iowa Code section 282.18.

         98.25(2) Inappropriate uses of categorical funding. Inappropriate uses of teacher leadership supplement funding shall include any expenditures other than the appropriate uses described in subrule 98.25(1).

[ARC 1967C, IAB 4/15/15, effective 5/20/15]