(a) (1) Effective July 1, 1970, each person employed by a school district in a position requiring certification qualifications, except a person employed in a position requiring administrative or supervisory credentials, shall be classified on the salary schedule on the basis of uniform allowance for years of training and years of experience, except if a public school employer and the exclusive representative negotiate and mutually agree to a salary schedule based on criteria other than a uniform allowance for years of training and years of experience pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of the Government Code. Employees shall not be placed in different classifications on the schedule, nor paid different salaries, solely on the basis of the respective grade levels in which such employees serve.

(2) In no case shall the governing board of a school district draw orders for the salary of any teacher in violation of this section, nor shall any superintendent draw any requisition for the salary of any teacher in violation thereof.

(3) This section shall not apply to teachers of special day and evening classes in elementary schools, teachers of special classes for elementary pupils, teachers of special day and evening high school classes and substitute teachers.

(b) (1) It is not a violation of the uniformity requirement of this section for a school district, with the agreement of the exclusive representative of certificated employees, if any, to grant any employee hired after a locally specified date differential credit for prior years of experience or prior units of credit for purposes of initial placement on the salary schedule of the district.

(2) This subdivision is declaratory of existing law.

(c) A public school employer and the exclusive representative of credentialed teachers may jointly apply to the Superintendent for technical assistance and planning grant funding to facilitate the planning of a salary schedule for teachers based on criteria in addition to years of training and years of experience, as described in subdivision (a). The Superintendent may make planning grants from funds appropriated for this purpose in the annual Budget Act or other legislation.

(d) To be eligible for grant funding pursuant to subdivision (c), the public school employer and the exclusive representative of credentialed teachers should consider a salary schedule designed to compensate teachers for the additional responsibilities, time, and effort required to serve in challenging school settings, and reward teachers for professional growth tied to their particular assignments.

(e) Public school employers and exclusive representatives of credentialed teachers are encouraged to recognize teacher contributions to improving pupil achievement, provide incentives to teachers to accept teaching assignments in areas of highest need, and recognize relevant professional experience on the salary schedule in lieu of units and degrees or in lieu of teaching experience.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 517, Sec. 29. Effective January 1, 2007.)