Aiming to attract and retain the best teachers for Florida’s schools, state Senator Darren Soto (D-Orlando) on Wednesday filed legislation boosting educators’ starting salary to $50,000.
“For some time, we’ve been hearing many promises from the governor and legislative leaders about their commitment to increasing funding for education. This legislation lets them deliver on those promises, starting with the teachers in our children’s classrooms,” said Soto.
The bill (SB296), filed for the upcoming 2016 legislative session, would require the legislature to appropriate funding to ensure a starting salary of $50,000 for all teachers. The increase would help boost Florida’s rankings for teachers’ pay, especially in counties such as Orange, where the starting salary is reportedly just $38,000 – among the lowest in the country. The pay hike would come at the same time state economists are forecasting a $635 million budget surplus.
Soto noted that the burgeoning workload under ever-changing education standards, and higher pay offered by other states are among the key factors driving teachers into retirement or moving vans. “Our teachers are among the most dedicated and hard working in the country,” he said. “But they’re also among the lowest paid. For the sake of our children and the future of Florida, that needs to change. With a major budget surplus predicted, the time is now.”
