Florida lawmakers getting closer on budget for vouchers, teacher pay

 By Jeffrey S. Solochek 

 State House and Senate negotiators continued to edge closer to an education budget agreement on Wednesday, while remaining separated on some key details.

The House accepted the Senate’s proposal to create a special fund to support advanced and technical programs, for instance, abandoning a plan to slash the money in half.

“We’re on the same page,” House education appropriations chairperson Jenna Persons-Mulicka said Wednesday during a press availability. “We are just funding that at different levels for now.”

The Senate had called for $418 million in the fund, about 70% of the amount spent this year. The House countered with about $596 million, which Persons-Mulicka said would guarantee each district the same or more than the current formula.

The sides also agreed to continue avoucher stabilization fund, which lawmakers initially created upon establishing universal vouchers a few years ago. The money was intended to protect against incorrect projections of the number of participating students.

Some lawmakers had suggested doing away with the money. The plan now calls for a smaller amount to remain as a buffer.

“Trying to determine where those students are … is one of the most important things we can do for districts and scholarship students alike,” said Senate education appropriations chairman Danny Burgess. “The stabilization fund is an important part of that.”

The chambers have yet to agree on how much additional money to put into teacher raises. The Senate initially proposed $248 million, while the House suggested $101 million. When the Senate modified its stance to add $100 million for increased personnel costs, including teachers, the House reduced its figure to $90 million for full-time teachers only.

The House also has resurfaced a proposal to add funding to the Schools of Hope charter school program, which was nixed in the Senate during the main part of session, Florida Politics reports.

The sides will continue to conference as needed.

Meanwhile, school districts remain in limbo on spending questions for the coming academic year while they wait for the Legislature to finish its budget, WTVJ reports.

https://pineapplereport.com/florida-lawmakers-getting-closer-on-budget-for-vouchers-teacher-pay/