News

TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED October 29, 2019

Joint Bargaining Update from HCTA and HCSB

At the bargaining session on October 29, 2019, both parties sought to identify the best compensation package possible to address improved wages as well the unanticipated health insurance increase.

October 7, 2019 - Governor DeSantis Pitches Increase to Teacher Pay -  From a schedule press conference in Jacksonville, the Governor released a plan to raise the minimum teacher salary in the state of Florida to $47,500 – impacting a little more than half of all of teachers in the state. Paired with the introduction of legislation by Sen. Rob Bradley to repeal the flawed Best and Brightest bonus scheme, the governor's announcement could be seen as evidence that the voices of FEA members and public education advocates are actually being heard.

While the plan is incomplete, that there is a

10 Questions to ask about the Governor’s Teacher Salary Proposal

For the past several months, FEA, our locals and our members have been bombarding media and elected officials with information about Florida’s national ranking in average teacher salary and that nearly 50,000 Educational Staff Professionals earn a poverty wage.

Clearly at least ONE politician is paying attention.

Governor DeSantis is expected to release his proposal for increasing teacher pay sometime soon and news sources are reporting that his goal is to raise teacher salaries to $50,000 per year!

It may sound good to many

September 18, 2019 - FEA's second article in their series exposing how Florida policies are undermining student success focuses on the scam that is VAM. Since its introduction into teacher evaluation processes, educators across the nation have protested the use of this flawed measure to identify ineffective teachers and brand schools as 'failing'. Recently, the Florida Legislature paved the way for school districts to move teacher evaluation models away from their reliance on VAM as the measure of student performance, but unfortunately it remains an instrument of disruption for the state. 

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August 26, 2019

Over the next few months this multi-part series will take a deep dive into the ways that Florida’s education policies have led to a full-scale crisis in the teaching profession.

Every student in Florida deserves to be in a classroom with a certified, highly-qualified, and dedicated teacher. Students deserve schools with full-time media specialists and schools that are staffed with more counselors and nurses than security guards. Florida’s students deserve the very best. Currently, Florida’s politicians are failing Florida’s future.  

Over the past two decades the Legislature and

Morgan & Morgan file suit over taxation of bonuses paid through the Best & Brightest program:

• The law firm of Morgan & Morgan has filed suit against the Florida Department of Education regarding Best and Brightest teacher bonuses on behalf of a teacher who received the bonus for two years.

• The lawsuit contends that, at the direction of the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), districts withheld the employer’s share of payroll taxes from Best and Brightest bonus checks, paying teachers smaller bonus amounts than specified by statute.

• In the law firm’s example, a $6,000 award was reduced by $426

(July 30, 2019) HCTA Executive Board members joined Hernando County Schools in welcoming nearly 100 new educators to the county during the district's annual New Teacher Orientation. Day one of the three day induction allowed our professional association to greet incoming teachers, provide lunch, and share the benefits of membership in our local, state and national organizations. A majority of attending new hires chose to invest in their profession through membership! Together, we make a difference! HCTA is excited to be growing with these professionals.