TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)-- Florida teachers could see a hike in their pay in the near future. The Florida Legislature would have to pass a proposed bill this upcoming season that would require the state to pay teachers the national average.
The United States Department of Education reports that the average teacher’s salary across the nation is approximately 56 thousand dollars. This could mean as much as a five thousand dollars more for Florida teachers.
Senator Joe Abruzzo is now proposing a constitutional amendment that would require teacher’s salaries to meet national salary levels. Abruzzo’s amendment says the state will foot the bill for those higher salaries.
The top 3 highest paid counties in our area are Suwanne County, Franklin County, and Jefferson County averaging at around 42,000 dollars. A couple of years ago lawmakers passed a bill that requires teacher to be paid on performance. There is still no word yet just how this would affect teacher’s pay, if the amendment it passed.
Meanwhile Florida Department of Education says it’s up to school districts to negotiate salaries with local teaching unions.
The measure would reportedly require the approval of 60 percent of lawmakers and 6- percent of voters in a referendum to become law. While the legislative session doesn’t begin until March 5, lawmakers will be kicking off committee weeks in the new year on Monday.
