SB327 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Donnie ChesteenSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Arthur Orr

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Teachers, math and science teachers, salary schedule, add'l compensation, Education Dept. to administer, add'l salary supplement for hard-to-staff schools, terms of employment contracts, fund created in State Treasury, commencing 2021-2022 school year, funding in education budget

Summary

SB327 creates the TEAMS Salary Schedule Program to pay math and science teachers more, including a hard-to-staff supplement, funded by a TEAMS Fund and administered by the Department of Education, starting in 2021-2022.

What This Bill Does

The bill establishes the TEAMS Salary Schedule Program and the TEAMS Fund to provide differential pay and salary supplements for participating teachers. It defines eligibility, requires districts to administer TEAMS contracts, and sets contract types (preliminary and advanced) with terms up to three years each and possible extensions. It imposes credential requirements for advanced contracts and mandates annual professional development. It also extends TEAMS funding to public charter schools and designates a hard-to-staff supplement of $5,000 per year for qualifying teachers in hard-to-staff schools.

Who It Affects

• Eligible math or science teachers (grades 6-12) who elect to participate; they may receive increased pay under the TEAMS schedule and, if teaching in a hard-to-staff school, the $5,000 annual hard-to-staff supplement, plus specific contract terms.
• Local boards of education (and, for charter schools, their boards) and the Department of Education; they administer the program, determine eligibility, allocate TEAMS positions and funding, pay teachers under the TEAMS schedule, and manage contract renewals and terminations.

Key Provisions

• Creation of the Teacher Excellence and Accountability for Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) Salary Schedule Program and the TEAMS Fund in the State Treasury.
• Eligibility and participation requirements for teachers (valid Alabama certificate, teaches math or science in grades 6-12, and works full-time in those subjects).
• Hard-to-staff supplement of $5,000 per year for participating teachers teaching in designated hard-to-staff schools, with annual determination of eligible schools by the department based on specified factors.
• Funding, allocation, and payment rules: local boards receive positions (one math and one science per 105 students in grades 6-12); teachers are paid according to the TEAMS schedule starting 2021-2022, net of the State Minimum Salary Schedule where applicable, with monthly distributions from the TEAMS Fund.
• Contract structure: participating teachers receive preliminary contracts (up to 3 years total, with progress benchmarks) and may advance to contracts up to 3 years; extensions up to 6 years may be allowed in certain cases; advanced contracts require specialized certification/credential.
• Authorized credentials for advanced contracts include: National Institute for STEM Education, National Board standards, the department’s credentials, or other department-approved criteria; teachers with 20+ years may receive a 5-year advanced contract.
• Due process and termination: clear grounds for termination for cause with expedited review options; notice requirements and appeal procedures are specified; pay continues until final department orders if a termination is upheld.
• charter schools: TEAMS funding and positions can be allocated to public charter schools; charter schools may offer TEAMS contracts and hard-to-staff supplements; contracts must be at least one year and can be terminated at will by the charter school governing board.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education