Teachers eligible for $9,000 bonus in DeSantis’ educator reform program

The Florida governor announced steps to reform an education program that will make teachers eligible for a $9,000 bonus.

On Thursday, at a Hillsborough County high school, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared his intentions to reform the Best and Brightest Teacher program. The program has a mission of recruiting and retaining skilled educators in Florida schools.

DeSantis wants the Florida legislature to allocate more than $422 million to the program for compensation increases for effective teachers and principals in Florida public schools. Nearly 45,000 highly-effective teachers will be eligible for bonuses exceeding $9,000. Likewise, principals will be eligible for bonuses up to $6,500.

The current program only gives bonuses to highly-effective educators that have high scores on their college entrance exam. The proposal would eliminate that requirement.

The governor’s new plan will also invest in the Teacher Talent Pipeline in Florida. Over the next five years, $10 million annually will be allocated to launch a loan and tuition forgiveness program. As many as 1,700 new teachers annually who commit to working in Florida for the next five years will be eligible.

The cost of the program will be more than double the current bonus program for educators.

“This renewed investment will reward highly effective teachers and principals across our state who are making a positive impact in our students lives,” DeSantis said at the press conference.