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Legislative Leaders: Teacher Pay Should Be Tied to Performance

WGCU | By Margie Menzel
Published January 25, 2013 at 9:40 AM EST

The House may push back on Governor Rick Scott's plan to give every full-time Florida teacher a $2,500 raise – with its leader saying members of the chamber believe in merit pay. House Speaker Will Weatherford on Thursday said he applauds Scott, but wants teacher pay to be tied to performance.

In 2011, lawmakers passed a measure that set out a merit pay system, and Weatherford said it should continue to be the basis for teacher pay increases.

  "Certainly we believe that merit pay is an area we should be looking at very closely", said Weatherford. "There are some wonderful teachers out there that we believe should be recognized, and we created a payment system in Senate Bill 736 that does that. And I just think that should be a part of the conversation.""

Scott on Wednesday said an across-the-board raise for teachers would cost the state $480 million.

Weatherford and Senate President Don Gaetz want Scott to explain how he would pay for the raises in the state budget.
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Education Rick ScottMerit PayTeachersEducationLocal
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