January 8, 2004 CONTACT:
Name: Betty Coxe Email: Betty.Coxe@fldoe.org
Phone: (850) 245-0857
MEMORANDUM
DPS: 04-069
TO: School District Superintendents
FROM: Jim Warford
SUBJECT: BEST Florida Teaching Salary Career Ladder Program
As you are aware, the 2003 Florida Legislature created the Better Educated Students and Teachers (BEST) Act, which requires all school districts to implement a salary career ladder for classroom teachers beginning with the 2004-2005 school year. The career ladder must have four levels: 1) Associate Teacher – classroom teachers not professionally certified or low performing teachers; 2) Professional Teacher – classroom teachers who are professionally certified; 3) Lead Teacher – classroom teachers who are responsible for leading other teachers; and 4) Mentor Teacher – classroom teachers who serve as regular mentors to teachers, serve as faculty-based professional development coordinators and provide direct instruction to low-performing students.
The recommended salary schedule for teachers for 2004-2005 must be consistent with the district’s career ladder and the district’s five percent performance pay policy must provide for the evaluation of classroom teachers within each level of the salary career ladder provided in Section 1012.231, Florida Statutes.
Each district school board must develop a plan to implement the salary career ladder as prescribed above and submit the plan to the Department of Education by March 1, 2004.
January 6, 2004
MEMORANDUM
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Attached you will find the following documents which will assist you in preparing your district plans for submission to the Department:
| · | BEST Florida Salary Career Ladder Program Plan For Implementation Beginning 2004-2005 (This document provides the format to be used by the district in submitting the district plan to the Department of Education) |
| · | BEST Florida Teaching Salary Career Ladder Program Statutory Authority |
These materials provide detailed information regarding the requirements for submitting your district plan. The district plan is due to the Department by March 1, 2004. The completed plan should be submitted with the required signature to Betty Coxe, K-12 Deputy Chancellor for Educator Quality, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Street, Suite 514, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.
We look forward to the successful implementation of this very important initiative to enhance the teaching profession while focusing on our most important goal—increasing student achievement throughout Florida. If you have questions or need additional information, you may reach the contact person via email or telephone as indicated on this memorandum.
J IM W ARFORD
K – 12 Chacellor
325 W. G AINES S TREET • S UITE 514 • T ALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
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