This bill amends section 1012.22 of the Florida Statutes to enhance compensation for public school personnel, particularly those with direct student contact, including instructional and non-instructional personnel as well as school administrators. It allows district school boards to provide cost-of-living salary adjustments to these employees without limiting their ability to offer other salary adjustments from various funding sources. The bill also revises the criteria for using advanced degrees in salary schedules, allowing for a broader interpretation of relevant fields of study, and removes previous limitations on salary adjustments under the performance salary schedule.

Additionally, the bill eliminates certain restrictions on how salary adjustments are determined, particularly for employees rated as effective or highly effective. It mandates that salary adjustments must be provided based on performance evaluations and allows for differentiated pay based on various factors, including advanced degrees and job performance difficulties. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 1720 Filed: 1012.22