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SS/SCS/SB 968 - This act renders alterations to several state policies regarding teachers.

SECTION 168.104 - This section adds certified teachers who teach at the pre-kindergarten level to the definition of the word "teacher" in the teacher tenure act.

SECTION 168.124 - This section asserts that, should a Board of Education choose to utilize the mechanism for reducing teacher forces in an attempt to manage adverse financial conditions caused by reductions in state education appropriations, then the district additionally shall comply with the following provision: If a school district has an unrestricted combined ending fund balance of more than 10% in its teachers' and incidental funds, and in the subsequent fiscal year such district places a contracted teacher on leave of absence after 40 days subsequent to the Governor signing the Elementary and Secondary Education appropriation bill, the district shall pay the affected teacher the greater of their salary for any days worked under the contract, or a sum equal to three thousand dollars.

SECTION 168.126 - Current law requires school districts to notify in writing a probationary teacher who will not be retained by the school district of the termination of their employment and requires school districts to provide the teacher, upon the teacher's request, a concise statement concerning the reason for such termination. This section requires the district in all cases to issue notice to the teacher expressly declaring the reason for the termination if the reason for such is due to a decrease in pupil enrollment, school district reorganization, or the financial condition of the school district.

SECTIONS 168.303 & 169.712 - Current law requires employment of at least seventeen hours per week in order to be considered eligible for the classroom teacher "job-sharing" program. This section seeks to alter the aforementioned requirement from a minimum of seventeen hours per week to a minimum of fifteen hours per week.

DONALD THALHUBER