(WTXL) — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Wednesday that provides $500 million to increase the minimum salary for public and charter school teachers in Florida.
"We wanted to take Florida from number 26 in the nation for average minimum teacher salary to the top five," said DeSantis.
In addition, $100 million will go toward salary increases for more experienced teachers who are making more than the minimum salary.
"By doing something like this, it's going to entice some more people who may be young and thinking about they want to do to maybe go into teaching," DeSantis said.
The Florida Education Association praised the bill on social media, saying "it speaks to the deep value of public education to our state's future."
We applaud @GovRonDeSantis for signing the teacher pay bill into law and for maintaining a commitment to educators, especially in this time of economic upheaval. #4EveryStudent pic.twitter.com/VLsNQglibQ
— Florida Education Association (@FloridaEA) June 24, 2020
The FEA also put together an FAQ for those with questions about what DeSantis' bill does. To view that FAQ, click here.
The governor held a news conference at the Mater Academy Charter School in Hialeah Gardens.
DeSantis was joined by Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez and State Rep. Toby Overdorf, whose district covers parts of Martin and St. Lucie counties.
