The "Save Our Teachers Act" seeks to significantly improve the salaries of instructional personnel and school administrators in Florida by amending section 1011.62 of the Florida Statutes. The bill proposes to raise the minimum base salary for full-time classroom teachers from $47,500 to $65,000 and introduces new funding requirements to help school districts and charter schools implement this increase. It also addresses salary compression and mandates annual cost-of-living adjustments and longevity pay for experienced teachers. School districts will be required to develop and submit salary distribution plans to the Department of Education, which will oversee a phased implementation starting in 2026.

Additionally, the bill amends section 1012.22 to create performance salary schedules that include step-based increases and compression relief supplements, ensuring fair compensation that reflects local economic conditions. It establishes specific salary increase requirements based on years of experience and encourages collaboration with local stakeholders to tackle regional disparities and retention challenges. The bill also introduces new responsibilities for instructional personnel, mandates compression relief supplements, and sets retention incentives for long-serving teachers. Furthermore, it requires the presence of the collective bargaining unit's president during updates to the state board by district superintendents, ensuring educator representation in discussions about district needs. The act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 670 Filed: 1011.62