Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) announced a $1.25 billion increase in funding for Florida teachers’ salaries, set to be implemented in the upcoming school year.
This announcement is the latest effort to boost teacher wages in Florida, where $4.6 billion has been invested under DeSantis’s administration. The annual salary for Florida teachers in the most recent school year averaged $48,286, an increase of $8,000 since 2019.
“Florida’s education system is No. 1 in the nation, and we want to make sure good educators are attracted to Florida with attractive compensation,” DeSantis stated. “I am proud to have invested more than $4 billion for teacher pay increases since the beginning of my time in office, and I will continue to push for increased funding for Florida’s teachers.”
Governor DeSantis Announces a Record $1.25 Billion for Teacher Pay Increases in 2024-2025 https://t.co/S1qDzZ2bAQ
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 10, 2024
DeSantis highlighted that Florida ranked No. 1 in education among all 50 states for the second consecutive year according to U.S. News & World Report, earning applause from press conference attendees.
Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. thanked DeSantis for his support of teachers and asserted that these actions help attract new educators to the state. “Florida continues to attract some of the best educators in the country, and it is a testament to the work that Gov. DeSantis has done to support education and raise teacher pay,” Diaz stated.
“Florida is the education state, and with investments like this, we will continue to lead the nation for years to come,” Diaz continued.
Earlier this year, DeSantis signed a bill mandating that Florida students will learn about the “dangers and evils of communism” starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Additionally, the State Board of Education passed a rule to “permanently prohibit” public spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion at public colleges.
