Text of the Bill and a Brief Summary
- SB 136 (full text)/HB 439 (full text) would be a big step towards fair pay for all teacher
- Currently, there are more than 20 rules and laws in Florida that restrict how teachers can be paid. By getting rid of these restrictions, SB 136 places the power to determine salaries back where it belongs, at the bargaining table. This means local unions and school districts will be able to negotiate fair raises without having to navigate the complex and burdensome rules that currently limit pay raises for experienced teachers.
What’s Next
SB 136
The first committee stop for SB 136 is in the Senate PreK-12 Education Committee.
HB 439
HB 439 has passed its first committee and its next committee stop is in the House PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee.
Talking Points
- One job should be enough for Floridians to afford to thrive. Far too many teachers have to work second or third jobs just to make ends meet.
- Florida is near the bottom in the nation in per-student funding. As if that weren’t bad enough, there are 20+ rules and laws that restrict how teachers can be paid. By repealing those laws, SB 136 is a big step towards ensuring Florida teachers are paid what they are worth.
- Florida’s students deserve professionally-trained and certified educators from the first day of kindergarten until their high school graduation. By removing barriers to fair pay, this bill will help retain teachers ensuring students get the individual attention and support they need.
