Senator Files Teacher Merit Pay Bill (FL)

February 2, 2011

State lawmakers are taking a second stab at legislation that would overhaul the way Florida’s teachers are evaluated and paid.

State Sen. Stephen Wise, a Jacksonville Republican and chairman of the Senate pre-K education committee, filed a bill this week that would base a portion of teacher evaluations on student test scores. Those evaluations would determine which teachers receive raises.

In addition to test s cores, the evaluations would take into account factors such as student poverty, attendence, disabilities and language skills.

State Rep. Eric Fresen, a Miami Republican who chairs the House education committee, is expected to file a House version in the next two weeks.

Most teachers statewide receive raises based on years of service. They are often evaluated by a school administrator, not by student performance.

State lawmakers passed similar legislation last year. But the measure met resistance from teachers, leading then-Gov. Charlie Crist to veto it. Teachers said the old legislation relied too heavily on test scores and took too much power from local school boards and teachers unions.