MO SB408

State board of education shall develop a simplified annual school report card assigning letter grades (A, B, C, D, or F) to each school based on student achievement and improvement measures.

School districts must adopt performance-based salary schedules by July 1, 2014, that base teacher compensation on evaluation results rather than advanced degrees, with optional supplements for Title I schools and shortage areas.

Changes teacher tenure and layoff provisions to make performance-based evaluations (rather than seniority) the primary basis for placing teachers on leave of absence due to budget cuts or enrollment decline.

Requires districts to develop and implement evaluation systems for teachers and principals using multiple measures, with student achievement growth counting for 40-60% of evaluations, aligned with a state-level growth model.

Modifies permanent teacher definition to apply only to teachers hired before August 28, 2013, and establishes four performance rating levels: "Highly Effective," "Effective," "Needs Improvement," and "Ineffective."