The bill amends section 1012.22 of the Florida Statutes to enhance compensation for public school personnel, specifically focusing on cost-of-living adjustments for employees with direct student contact, including instructional personnel, prekindergarten teachers, non-instructional personnel, and school administrators. It clarifies that these adjustments do not prevent district school boards from providing additional salary adjustments from various funding sources. The bill also revises the criteria for using advanced degrees in salary schedules and removes previous limitations on salary adjustments under the performance salary schedule, allowing for more flexibility in compensation based on performance and qualifications.

Key changes include the insertion of language that allows for cost-of-living adjustments to be applied broadly to various employee categories and the deletion of restrictions that limited these adjustments. Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for recognizing advanced degrees in setting salary schedules and emphasizes the importance of performance in determining salary adjustments. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 1216 Filed: 1012.22