The "Save Our Teachers Act" proposes significant changes to the salary structure for instructional personnel and school administrators in Florida. It amends section 1011.62 of the Florida Statutes to raise the minimum base salary for full-time classroom teachers from $47,500 to $65,000. The bill requires school districts to create and submit a salary distribution plan to the Department of Education, ensuring that salary increases are fair and reflective of local economic conditions. Additionally, it mandates the inclusion of step-based salary increases and compression relief supplements in performance salary schedules, aiming to enhance teacher retention and address salary inequities.

Moreover, the bill introduces new reporting requirements for school districts, which must provide detailed summaries of salary expenditures and strategies to tackle pay compression. It establishes a phased implementation plan prioritizing smaller and financially challenged districts, with the Department of Education overseeing the process and providing state teacher compensation grants. Key provisions also include performance-based salary adjustments, retention incentives for long-serving instructional personnel, and the requirement for the collective bargaining unit president to accompany the district superintendent during state board updates. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
H 727 Filed: 1011.62