Florida Gov. DeSantis proposes starting teacher pay increase

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a proposal to lift starting teacher salaries to $47,500, roughly a $10,000 increase.

If the Legislature agrees to that $600 million investment, it would place Florida among the highest-paying states for starting teacher salaries.

DeSantis said the higher salary would help the state's teacher shortage "and elevate the teaching profession to the level of appreciation it deserves."

Average starting teacher pay in Florida was $37,636 for the 2017-18 school year, according to the National Education Association. (The amount can vary by district.) That salary places Florida below the national average of $39,249 and in the middle of the pack of states.

Florida has long lagged behind the national average on teacher salaries, which contribute to vacancies. There were about 2,600 teacher vacancies at the start of the 2019-20 school year. 

Under DeSantis's proposal, about 101,000 teachers who earn less than $47,500 would be eligible for an increase. That's about 57% of classroom teachers in Florida.

Previous efforts to increase teacher pay have been focused on the Best and Brightest bonus program. DeSantis supported changes in 2019 to expand those bonuses. However, DeSantis has since knocked the program as "very complicated," and Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, filed a bill to repeal it.

We asked a DeSantis spokeswoman if he plans to support repeal in order to pay for the increase. She said he is looking at all options.

While the Florida Education Association embraces raising teacher pay for early career teachers, it raised concerns that this proposal leaves out raising pay for more experienced teachers.

"If a brand new teacher earns $47,500 and somebody who has been here 18 years is making $48,000, does their 17 extra years or more not count for something?" asked Sharon Nesvig, FEA spokeswoman.

The teacher pay proposal by DeSantis awaits action by the Legislature, which convenes in January. For now we keep this promise In The Works.