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Committee hears status of mentor stipends, national board pay and state board compensation requests
Summary
KSDE said mentor‑teacher stipend funding was removed in later steps of last year’s process and currently has no funding; KSDE also described a $360,000 national board certification support request and a $129,000 state board compensation request.
Dr. Harwood briefed the committee on several personnel‑related line items.
Mentor teachers: KSDE recounted last year’s funding path: the committee approved increases for mentor stipends, appropriations cut the amount, and the Senate struck funding—leaving no current statewide funding for mentor stipends though districts remain required by statute to provide mentoring for licensure transitions. "Currently, there is no funding for mentor teachers," Dr. Harwood said, noting districts may or may not pay mentors locally.
National board certification: KSDE requested $360,000 to fund district stipends tied to national board certification. Dr. Harwood said the program typically cost about $168,000 in 2025 and KSDE also used funds to support candidates seeking certification or renewal.
State board compensation: KSDE included a $129,000 request to fund a compensation plan for the state board consistent with prior House passage; that funding would align state board pay with legislative pay parity provisions discussed in earlier sessions.
Why it matters: Mentor stipends and national board funding are tied to teacher retention and professional advancement. Members asked for clarity about whether the items were part of the base budget or enhancements and how past settlement or court‑related funding (the Gannon settlement was referenced) affected line‑item decisions.
Ending: No formal votes were taken; members asked for clarifications on which items are base budget and which were enhancements in prior committee work.
