Why would we move backwards?
Rick Scott’s budget proposal
• During his campaign and his first month in office, Governor Scott promised education funding would not be cut, but his budget cuts education by 10% – billions of dollars.
• These funding cuts will certainly result in layoffs throughout our schools, for teachers and other school employees, more privatization, and will lead to the loss of thousands more jobs throughout the state.
Teacher quality
• The new “teacher quality” bill, SB 736, is this year’s version of SB 6, and raises many of the same concerns.
• The legislation increases the number of tests that must be developed and given to every student every year – and shifts millions of dollars to pay for these new tests. It will tie teacher salaries directly to student tests.
• SB 736 allows all new teachers – regardless of rating – to be fired without a reason or a hearing.
Retirement
• Tallahassee wants to take 5% out of the paychecks of teachers and school and public employees – not because the pension fund is in trouble, but so they can spend the money elsewhere, including tax cuts for corporations. These proposed pay cuts will harm small businesses and local economies all over Florida.
• Pensions for teachers and education staff are very modest, and are taxable. Teacher pensions average about $325 per week, and other school employees get much less – about $195 per week. Teachers and education employees earn these modest pensions through decades of public service.