Governor proposing increase to Florida teachers’ minimum salary

Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced his proposal to increase the minimum salary for teachers across the state. The governor’s proposed 2020 budget recommendation will include a pay raise for more than 101,000 teachers in Florida by raising the minimum salary to $47,500.

According to the National Education Association, Florida ranks 26th in the nation for starting teacher pay at $37,636. This investment of more than $600 million will move Florida up to second in the nation for starting teacher pay.

“We are experiencing a teacher shortage in Florida,” DeSantis said in a news release. “With a strong economy and plenty of jobs available in other fields, unfortunately too many college graduates are unwilling to enter the teaching profession. My proposal to increase the minimum salary for teachers to $47,500 will help alleviate this shortage and elevate the teaching profession to the level of appreciation it deserves.

“This is long overdue, and I look forward to working with the legislature to make this a reality,” he said.

“Getting a great teacher in front of every child is the No. 1 proven way to get great outcomes for students,” said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “Florida going from No. 26 to No. 2 in the nation in starting pay sends a clear signal to Florida’s teachers and our entire education family that we are ready to celebrate our teachers and foster lifelong success for our students.”

DeSantis announced his proposal during a visit to Middleburg High School in Clay County, where he was joined by Corcoran and Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley.

During the 2019 Legislative Session, the governor worked with the Florida Legislature to secure historic achievements for Florida’s students and families, including: 

• The highest ever per pupil spending at $7,672 per student.
• The creation of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, which expands education opportunities for children of families with limited financial resources.
• Continued legislative and funding support for the Schools of Hope Program and expanded the locations where the schools can operate. 
• $10 million in funding dedicated to career and technical education for the newly created Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program.
• Funding for students on the waiting list for the Gardiner Scholarship and cleared the waitlist for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship.
• $10 million to fund teacher professional development in computer science and reward those teachers for earning credentials to teach high-quality computer science courses.