Teachers To Receive Raise, $1,000 Bonus Under FL Governor's Proposed Budget

FLORIDA — Florida's public school teachers will take home a bigger paycheck under Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposed 2022 education budget.

At a news conference Wednesday, the Republican governor said he intends to recommend an education budget that would include $600 million for teacher salaries, raising the minimum pay for public school teachers from $40,000 to $47,500 a year.

"Fortunately, in the state of Florida, we're in a very strong budget position," DeSantis said. "Our reserves are incredibly healthy given what people were projecting with COVID first hit. That's a reflection of the strength of Florida's economy. Our education budget is going to have a lot of wins for students, parents and teachers."

If approved, this would be the third year in a row teacher salaries have been increased. DeSantis said it would put Florida among the top 10 states for minimum teacher salaries and possible among the top five.

Additionally, he's asking for $1,000 bonuses for teachers and principals for the second straight year.

His education budget represents record funding for Florida's public schools and the highest per-student funding in Florida's history at $8,000 per student.

“Since Day One, I have been focused on making Florida a leader in education, and I am proud to announce my proposals to invest record funding into our education system over the next year,” DeSantis said. “By continuing to boost teacher pay, give bonuses to principals and teachers, prioritize workforce education, foster a strong civics curriculum, and replace the FSA with progress monitoring, we’re making a significant difference in the lives of our students.”,>

The proposed budget was quick to receive Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran's stamp of approval.,>

Calling the governor's proposal a "game changer," he said the funding will "transform the hearts and souls and the minds of the next generation." ,>

"All and all, Florida is the Education State. We now rank No. 3 in the latest quality counts rating for K-12 by Education Week," up from No. 50 when he was elected, DeSantis said.
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The governor’s proposed education budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 also:,>

• Recommends spending $421 million for school safety and mental health initiatives. That funding includes $210 million for the safe schools program, an increase of $30 million over the previous year; $140 million for mental health, a $20 million increase over the previous year; $42 million for school safety grants; and $4 million for safety initiatives at Jewish day schools.
• Proposes $15.5 for progress monitoring tools to fully eliminate the Florida Standards Assessment and implement progress monitoring in its place.
• Recommends $500,000 to expand access to the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative to every school district in the 2022-2023 school year. This is in addition to $106 million DeSantis announced earlier this year to provide teacher bonuses for earning a Florida Civics Seal of Excellence.
• Includes $534 million in funding to support workforce education programs to further efforts to make Florida the number No. 1 state for workforce education by 2030. The governor's budget also includes $100 million for the Workforce Development Capitalization Grant Program, which will create and expand workforce development programs at Florida’s school districts and state colleges.

He said the workforce initiative is especially important because it will allow students to graduate and go onto high-paying jobs without incurring the crippling debt of a college education.