The state's prototypical school funding model provides allocations for classroom teachers at an assumed class size, plus other building-level staff at prescribed ratios. Based on these staffing ratios, the state uses salary assumptions for three different staff types to generate state funding allocations: certificated instructional staff, certificated administrative staff, and classified staff. Updated statewide minimum salary allocations are provided in the operating budget, and are as follows for the 2024-25 school year:
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The minimum allocated salaries are regionalized to reflect the regional differences in the cost of hiring staff. These regionalization factors are published by the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program and referenced in the operating budgets. The minimum allocated salaries are also adjusted annually for inflation.
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State law requires that the minimum salary allocations and regionalization factors be reviewed and rebased every four years, beginning with the 2023-24 school year, to ensure that state salary allocations continue to align with staffing costs for the state's program of basic education.
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While state policy determines salary allocations to school districts, local collective bargaining and employment contracts determine employee pay.
Beginning with the 2025-26 school year the minimum state allocation for salaries for classified staff in the basic education program must be increased to provide a statewide average allocation of $67,325 adjusted by inflation from the 2023-24 school year. Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, this amount must be increased to $73,384.
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Beginning with the 2027-28 school year, minimum state salary allocations for classified staff in the basic education program must be split into two categories, classified administrative staff and other classified staff.
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The minimum state allocation for salaries for classified administrative staff must be increased to provide a statewide average allocation of $99,164, adjusted by inflation from the 2026-27 school year. This category of staff includes directors, supervisors, or other school administrators that are not certificated administrative staff, including staff working in the business office, human resources, public relations, instruction supervision, and maintenance and operations supervision.
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The minimum state allocation for salaries for other classified staff must be increased to provide a statewide average allocation of $79,988 adjusted by inflation from the 2023-24 school year. Other classified staff includes all other noncertificated positions, including all other office, clerical, or support personnel.