S257 - Appropriations Act of 2017. (SL 2017-57)

Overview: S.L. 2017-57, Sec. 8.8B, as amended by S.L. 2017-197, Sec. 2.10, modifies the Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate (IB), Industry Certifications and Credentials, and Third Grade Read to Achieve Teacher Bonus Programs. The expiration date is eliminated for the three programs and they are no longer considered "pilot" programs. For the AP/IB bonus program, bonuses will also be awarded for certain scores of students on Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) examinations. Additionally, the cap on the bonus is raised from $2,000 to $3,500.

• The Industry Certifications and Credentials bonus program is modified to clarify that it includes charter schools. Additionally, the cap on the bonus is raised from $2,000 to $3,500.
• The Third Grade Read to Achieve bonus program is modified to remove the restriction on individuals who are no longer teaching third grade. Instead, teachers who are still teaching in the same local school administrative unit as the year the bonus was earned will receive the bonus, regardless of their current teaching assignment. Further, this section clarifies that the bonus is awarded in addition to any regular wage or other bonus the teacher may receive.

This section became effective July 1, 2017 and applies to the AP/IB/Cambridge AICE bonus program and the Industry Certifications and Credentials bonus program for bonuses awarded in January 2018, 2019, and 2020. It applies to Third Grade Read to Achieve bonuses awarded in January 2018 only.