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Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) Says Some School Districts are Withholding a Five Percent Administrative Fee from the Teacher Salary Increase Allocation for Charter School Teachers
FCPCS calls on school districts to reverse their decision to withhold an administrative fee from the charter school teacher salary increase allocation.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (February 25, 2021) –The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) today called on school districts to distribute 100 percent of the teacher salary increase allocation intended for charter school teachers. This comes as many of the state's school districts are withholding an administrative fee from each charter school's proportionate share of funds allocated for teacher salary increases.
The 2020 Florida Legislature supported Governor Ron DeSantis' initiative to make Florida teachers a priority with historic legislation that budgeted $500 million to increase teacher salaries at district and charter schools. This investment was the single largest teacher compensation increase ever in Florida. $400 million was allocated to raise the minimum pay for full-time teachers and certified pre-kindergarten teachers to at least $47,500, or to the maximum amount achievable based on the allocation and as specified in the General Appropriations Act; $100 million was allocated to raise salaries of veteran teachers and other full-time instructional personnel.
However, many districts are withholding a five percent administrative fee from funds specifically earmarked for teachers, releasing only 95 percent of charter schools’ total allocation. State law allows a school district to charge charter schools a total administrative fee based on five percent of the available Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) funds for up to 250 students or two percent for up to 250 students for high-performing charter schools.
To meet the targeted salary increases designed under Florida law, many charter schools are being forced to find other funds to make up the difference between their proportionate share allocated by the Legislature and the actual funds distributed by their district. On average, this amounts to nearly $500 per teacher – funds some districts are retaining.
"We are confident that both Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature intended for 100 percent of the teacher salary increase allocation to go directly to the teachers," said FCPCS President Robert Haag. "Money for teachers should not be subject to the five percent (or two percent) administrative fee. The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools calls on school districts to reconsider their decision to withhold a percentage of the teacher salary increase allocation so the full amount of the charter schools' proportionate share can be used for the purpose in which it was intended - salary increases for the dedicated and hardworking teachers at Florida's public charter schools."
About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools
The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state, with a membership of nearly 75 percent of all operating charter schools. Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools. |
