51黑料 Public Schools students board a bus outside of Columbia Elementary, in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood, on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in 51黑料.
JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 Missouri kids could see a lot more gray hair when they return to school this fall.
Legislation signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe aims to entice more older Missourians to work for the state鈥檚 public schools to offset ongoing personnel shortages.
Under one new law, retired teachers will be able to continue filling in as substitutes and temporary teachers on a part-time basis until 2030 without losing their teacher pension benefits.
The new law extends a 2022 change that was scheduled to end this year.
Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic amid a shortage of substitute teachers, retirees were given the opportunity to return to the classroom without infringing on their retirement payments.
An estimated 4,500 retired teachers took advantage of the law last year.
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While the overall cost is expected to be insignificant, the actuary for the Public Education Employees鈥 Retirement System urged caution about the change, saying it could result in teachers retiring earlier in order to begin collecting benefits while also continuing to work.
That would result in fewer full-time teachers participating and contributing to the pension system.
鈥(T)hey continue to caution that the fiscal impact could be significant if the suspension of the limitations continues to be extended and effectively becomes a permanent provision,鈥 a fiscal analysis of the legislation notes.
In addition to extending the teacher program, a second law aims to make it easier for older bus drivers to continue driving.
Currently, for people 70 years and older who have school bus endorsements on their driver鈥檚 license, the license is issued or renewed for only one year at a time.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Jim Kalberloh, R-Lowry City, changes the age limit to 75 and allows retesting to happen every two years, rather than every year.
The Missouri Department of Revenue said there were 855 bus licensees last year who required yearly testing.
The reliance on older residents to fill gaps in public schools comes as lawmakers continue a plan to boost teacher pay rates in order to draw more people to the profession.
The budget signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe in June includes $33.4 million to help schools pay minimum salary levels.
The minimum teacher salary for the school year beginning in August is $40,000. Teachers with a master鈥檚 degree and at least 10 years of experience must be paid at least $46,000.
The national average starting teacher pay rate is $46,526, according to the National Education Association.
In the 2022-23 school year, Missouri ranked 49th in the nation in teacher pay, the NEA said.
The legislation is Hous
Post-Dispatch photographers capture tens of thousands of images every year. See some of their best work that was either taken in June 2025 in this video. Edited by Jenna Jones.
