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Professional Educators Network of Florida

Supporting, Protecting and Uniting Florida's Teachers

Teacher of the Year

Governor Scott’s Education Budget Recommendations – A Summary

January 31, 2017 By penfl

Kristin Whitaker, PEN’s Legislative Liaison, has summarized the 2017-2018 Education Budget Recommendations taken from “Governor Rick Scott’s 2017-2018 Budget: Fighting for Florida’s Future”  Below are some of the highlights from the 37-page summary the Governor’s office released.

Supporting Florida’s Teachers

Governor Scott recognizes the positive impact highly trained principals and teachers have on today’s students and generations of students to come. Therefore, as part of the state’s investment this year, Governor Scott proposes a total of $8.5 million in funding for initiatives focused on professional development.
Initiatives include:
· $7 million to support principal training;
· $849,450 for approximately 600 math teachers to participate in a four-day training session during the summer;
· $500,000 to provide a year-long, job-embedded, research-based program to principals, principal supervisors, and education leaders to improve student instruction; and
· $100,000 for the Teacher LEAD Network program which provides district Teacher of the Year winners the opportunity to participate in professional development designed to improve leadership skills needed to support improved teaching.

Teacher of the Year Program
The Fighting for Florida’s Future budget recommends $770,000 for monetary awards to Florida’s highest performing teachers through the Teacher of the Year Program. Under Governor Scott’s recommendation and combined with private funds from Macy’s, the award amounts will be a minimum of $10,000 for district participants, a minimum of $15,000 for finalists, and a minimum of $20,000 for the Teacher of the Year.

Cutting Fees for Teachers
The Fighting for Florida’s Future Budget recommends $15 million to pay for initial teacher certification and renewal certification fees. This investment will save each of Florida’s aspiring teachers approximately $555 on their initial certification and each of Florida’s employed public school teachers $75 for their certification renewal.

Teacher Recruitment and Retention
Governor Scott knows that recruiting and retaining great teachers makes Florida’s education system better for students today and for generations to come. The Fighting for Florida’s Future budget recommends $43 million for the following teacher recruitment and retention initiatives:
· $10 million for a one-time hiring bonus for Florida’s teachers testing in the top 10 percent of the Subject Area Examination in the subject they are teaching in the 2017-2018 school year;
· $5 million to increase the diversity of the teachers in critical shortage and high need areas;
· $5.9 million to recruit Bright Futures Scholars that major in Education and commit to four years of teaching following graduation in the rural district from which they graduated high school;
· $16 million for districts to implement targeted recruitment and retention initiatives that meet the districts’ needs; and
· $6.1 million to reward great teachers in low-performing schools.

Filed Under: Legislative Tagged With: 2017-2018 Education Budget, Cutting Fees for Teachers, Florida Education Budget, Governor Rick Scott Education Budget, Supporting Florida's Teachers, Teacher of the Year, Teacher Recruitment and Retention

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“I called PEN and within a few hours, I was speaking with an attorney…”

"I never thought I would need PEN’s legal services. I had been teaching for 34 years and been nominated several times as Teacher of the Year. But in my 34th year of my teaching career, one of my ESE student’s parents requested that I let her son take a test as many times as it took for him to pass the test. When I explained to her that I could not do that, she began calling the school and sending emails to DOE telling them things that were not true about what I was doing to her son. I called PEN and within a few hours, I was speaking with an attorney and he listened to my situation and advised me on how to proceed. He stayed in contact with me until the issue was resolved. I am so thankful I filled out that PEN brochure that was in my school mailbox." - Polk County Educator
2016-12-09T13:48:30+00:00
"I never thought I would need PEN’s legal services. I had been teaching for 34 years and been nominated several times as Teacher of the Year. But in my 34th year of my teaching career, one of my ESE student’s parents requested that I let her son take a test as many times as it took for him to pass the test. When I explained to her that I could not do that, she began calling the school and sending emails to DOE telling them things that were not true about what I was doing to her son. I called PEN and within a few hours, I was speaking with an attorney and he listened to my situation and advised me on how to proceed. He stayed in contact with me until the issue was resolved. I am so thankful I filled out that PEN brochure that was in my school mailbox." - Polk County Educator
http://penfl.org/testimonials/called-pen-within-hours-speaking-attorney/

“It would have been a really scary time if I had not had an attorney advising me…”

"I believed one of my students was being abused by a guardian. I called the PEN representative and she told me that I was obligated to report this to the district. I was interviewed by the district, the DCF and the sheriff’s department. The PEN attorney advised me of the laws, helped me prepare my statement and advised me on the process. It all turned out fine in the end, but it would have been a really scary time if I had not had an attorney advising me." - Palm Beach County Educator
2016-12-09T13:49:27+00:00
"I believed one of my students was being abused by a guardian. I called the PEN representative and she told me that I was obligated to report this to the district. I was interviewed by the district, the DCF and the sheriff’s department. The PEN attorney advised me of the laws, helped me prepare my statement and advised me on the process. It all turned out fine in the end, but it would have been a really scary time if I had not had an attorney advising me." - Palm Beach County Educator
http://penfl.org/testimonials/really-scary-time-not-attorney-advising/

“It was a relief to have PEN speak out for me and make sure that my rights were not violated…”

"Due to an injury, my doctor prescribed that I would need to adjust several of my job-related activities. PEN helped me with getting the district to make accommodations so I could keep on working. It was a relief to have PEN speak out for me and make sure that my rights were not violated." - Miami-Dade Educator
2016-12-09T13:50:10+00:00
"Due to an injury, my doctor prescribed that I would need to adjust several of my job-related activities. PEN helped me with getting the district to make accommodations so I could keep on working. It was a relief to have PEN speak out for me and make sure that my rights were not violated." - Miami-Dade Educator
http://penfl.org/testimonials/relief-pen-speak-make-sure-rights-not-violated/

Thank you is such a small word to show my appreciation

Thank you so much is such a small word to show my appreciation for what you have done for me this past year. You have carried me with your kindness, your endless words of wisdom, and guidance. I truly appreciate everything that you have done for me." ~ Debora Toni-Thomas
2018-07-13T20:03:03+00:00
Thank you so much is such a small word to show my appreciation for what you have done for me this past year. You have carried me with your kindness, your endless words of wisdom, and guidance. I truly appreciate everything that you have done for me." ~ Debora Toni-Thomas
http://penfl.org/testimonials/thank-you-is-such-a-small-word-to-show-my-appreciation/

Having a lawyer made all the difference

“I have been very pleased with my service from PEN. Thank you so much! I feel that having a lawyer made all the difference in the resolution of my case.

~ Yolanda Redding”
2018-07-13T20:00:03+00:00
“I have been very pleased with my service from PEN. Thank you so much! I feel that having a lawyer made all the difference in the resolution of my case. ~ Yolanda Redding”
http://penfl.org/testimonials/having-a-lawyer-made-all-the-difference/

Thank you PEN of Florida

http://penfl.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Debora_Testimony_7.9.18.mp4

Having a lawyer made all the difference

http://penfl.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Yolanda_Testimony_7.9.18.mp4

You support teachers and don’t play politics

http://penfl.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Patrick_story_2018.mp4

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Professional Educators Network of Florida (PEN) is a professional organization for teachers and support staff throughout the state of Florida. PEN offers liability protections, legal representation, professional development and networking opportunities for educators in the Sunshine State.
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