HB 2956 Summary

• Requires public schools in grades 9-12 that sponsor athletic teams to provide automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at each campus and school-sponsored athletic event beginning August 1, 2026, with AEDs maintained in unlocked, clearly marked, easily accessible locations.

• Increases charter school additional assistance funding from $2,090.10 to $2,131.90 per student (preschool-grade 8) and from $2,435.97 to $2,484.69 per student (grades 9-12), and sets base level funding at $5,113.26 for fiscal year 2025-2026.

• Requires charter schools to report the number of full-time equivalent teachers disaggregated by subject area and grade level in their budgets, and mandates annual teacher salary information reporting to the legislature.

• Establishes a comprehensive annual teacher retention study by the department of education tracking retention rates, vacancies, and teacher preparation program data, with results due by December 31 each year and published on an interactive public dashboard.

• Transfers the K-12 school financial transparency portal from the department of administration to the department of education and establishes a ninth grade on-track grant program providing at least $150 per ninth grade student (up to 6,650 students) to help students complete sufficient credits for graduation in four years.