UPDATE MAY 1:
The Florida Department of Education responded to the teacher pay report. In an e-mail sent to investigative reporter, Katie Lagrone, FDOE said:
"When Governor DeSantis signs Florida’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the state will have invested over $4 billion dollars in pay raises for teachers since the Governor took office. This was accomplished despite constant obstruction from organizations like the FEA. As a result, Florida has increased our teacher starting salary from $40,000 to $48,000.
The bogus NEA report does not consider a variety of factors, such as cost of living and state income tax. We also have no way to verify that the union is accurately collecting and reporting teacher salaries and not artificially inflating the data with benefits and other forms of compensation.
One thing we know to be 100% true: when the union gets involved in salary negotiations, teachers lose out. This year, the Orange County teachers’ union, one of the largest school districts, stalled out the negotiation process which significantly delayed teacher pay raises. Last year, the Hillsborough County teachers’ union used delay tactics to stall teacher pay raises for more than 6 months. Perhaps the FEA should spend more time addressing why over half of the teachers’ unions that were required to renew their registration failed to meet the 60% threshold for the 2023-2024 school year and had to petition the Public Employees Relations Commission to be recertified."
ORIGINAL STORY:
- Educator pay data from the National Education Association shows Florida's ranking among other states and Washington, D.C. has dropped two spots.
- Their latest reports shows the average teacher salary in Florida is $53,098, while it's $64,461 just across the border in Georgia.
- Read the FEA news release to learn more about the latest ranking.
FEA NEWS RELEASE:
New data released today shows Florida’s average teacher pay dropped from being ranked #48 in the nation last year to #50 (out of the 50 states and D.C., only West Virginia ranks lower) in the nation this year.
The report [linkprotect.cudasvc.com], part of a series released by the National Education Association (NEA), echoes the concerns raised by the Florida Education Association about the lack of support for teachers in the state and the long-term impacts of low pay. The Florida Education Association has called on lawmakers to increase funding by $2.5 billion a year for the next 7 years to address inadequate pay, to hire more mental health specialists and to address the academic needs of students.
"Once again, despite a thriving economy, Florida is failing to prioritize the needs of students by not fairly compensating teachers and staff," said Andrew Spar, President of the Florida Education Association. "Time and time again, anti-education politicians say they support teachers— but the proof is undeniable: in the past five and a half years since Governor DeSantis took office, Florida's public-school teachers have experienced a stagnant and declining average salary. It is unacceptable that Florida ranks so close to last in the nation for teacher pay and that the teacher shortage crisis is still not being addressed. Every student in Florida deserves a world class education. Every educator deserves the ability to create a better life for themselves and their loved ones. We need Florida's lawmakers to step up and take bold action and fully fund public education to ensure our students can learn and grow. Florida’s students and educators need better.”
For the 2022 – 2023 school year, the students enrolled per teacher ratio was already higher than the national average at 20.7 students per teacher in Florida, but estimates show that student enrollment in Florida's public schools will continue to rise. The NEA reports estimate that in the 2023 – 2024 school year, the percentage of teachers in Florida's public schools will decline by 3%, a decline that could worsen the existing teacher and staff shortage.
The NEA report also shows that nationally, chronic low pay is plaguing the profession, both for teachers and education support professionals. 77% of school districts still pay a starting salary below $50,000, while almost 38% of all full-time K-12 education support professionals earn less than $25,000 annually. Yet nationally, the report shows that teachers earn 26% more, on average, in states with collective bargaining.
“Every student, regardless of race or place, deserves caring, qualified, committed educators. And every educator needs our fierce support in helping them inspire imagination, curiosity, and a love of learning and to provide the skills students need to thrive in their brilliance,” said Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association in a press release [linkprotect.cudasvc.com] on their report. “The good news is that through their unions, educators have demanded respect and a seat at the table and have used the power of their collective voice to demand more. More for their students, more professional respect, and more pay. By holding elected officials accountable, educators will earn the respect, competitive wages, and support they deserve to provide their students with the skills needed to fulfill their dreams in safe, just, and welcoming learning environments.”
