Executive Summary:
Florida’s Teacher Salary Increase Allocation (TSIA), enacted in 2020 through House Bill 641, aimed to boost starting teacher salaries statewide with an initial $500 million investment.1 The goal was to significantly raise the average starting pay, dramatically improving Florida’s national ranking. Although the predicted jump to #5 nationally did not occur, the policy has succeeded in elevating starting salaries. According to NEA data, Florida’s district-average starting salary increased from $38,724 in 2019-20 to $44,040 in 2020-21 and has continued to rise. By 2025, only 9 of 67 districts offered less than $47,500, while 27 provided $50,000 or more. TSIA funding has grown substantially, exceeding $1.36 billion in 2025-26, primarily as maintenance funds to sustain prior raises, with additional amounts for further increases.2 Districts must submit salary distribution plans by October 1 to receive new funds. In 2025-26, 41 districts missed this deadline—largely due to prolonged union-district negotiations—delaying raises and withholding over $76 million statewide. While effective for starting pay, evidence suggests limited impact on overall average teacher salaries, raising concerns about salary compression for veteran teachers and potential over-reliance on TSIA funds at the expense of local district resources.