TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Teachers who scored well on college admission tests could wind up getting a bonus every year under a bill approved by the Florida House.
The House voted 81-31 Thursday for a bill (HB 7043) that would require bonuses for top-rated teachers who scored well on SAT and ACT tests. The bill would put into law the "Best and Brightest" program that was initially created in 2015 for one year.
Backers contend the legislation is a way to encourage top students to go into the teaching profession. But opponents call it a "waste of money" and say there is no evidence it will lead to better teachers.
The Legislature last year set aside $44 million for the program. More than 5,300 teachers out of over 175,000 in the state qualified for the bonus.
