Gov. Ron DeSantis Signs Bill To Raise Starting Teacher Salaries

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Hialeah Gardens Wednesday afternoon to sign a bill giving new teachers more money in the fall.

The bill authorizes $500 million to boost starting teacher pay.

The governor also said $100 million had been approved to boost the salaries of existing teachers who make the minimum.

The signing of the legislation was greeted by enthusiastic applause by those in attendance.

"COVID-19 has interrupted our students' and teachers' academic year in unprecedented ways," said Governor DeSantis. "Our teachers stepped up and found ways to keep our students learning and engaged these last few months to ensure students continued to receive the best education in the nation. They taught classes virtually; they made sure lesson materials were delivered; they committed to their students. Great teachers are what our students need as they re-enter the classroom in the fall, and that's why this remained a major priority in our budget. Florida was previously 26th in the nation for teacher pay and this announcement puts us in the top five, an over 20 spot jump in one year that reflects an historic investment in teacher compensation."

Here is what the office of the governor said about the legislature:

Who Benefits from HB 641:
• Step 1: Full-time classroom teachers (s. 1012.01(2)(a), F.S.) plus certified pre-K teachers funded in the FEFP (not including substitute teachers)
• Step 2: Group from Step 1 who did not receive an increase or increase was less than 2%, and other full-time instructional personnel (not including substitute teachers) (s. 1012.01(2)(b)-(d), F.S.)

How funds are distributed:
• These funds must be used solely to increase teacher salaries and no collective bargaining agreement can alter this requirement.
• Step 1: Requires school districts and charters to use $400 million to increase the salaries of all full-time school instructional classroom teachers to at least $47,500 or the maximum amount achievable based on the district's allocation.
• Step 2: Requires school districts and charters to use $100 million to provide salary increases of the group from Step 1 who did not receive an increase or received an increase of less than 2%, and other full-time instructional personnel.

The event was held at the Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School.