Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program 2018 Update

Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Award – 1012 Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Award – 1012.731 Florida Statute- History $44,022,483 Appropriation (Year 1) $49,000,000 Appropriation (Year 2) Eligible teachers were able to receive up to $10,000.00 dependent upon number of teachers awarded the scholarship.

Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Award -2018/2019 - $6,000.00 The statute establishes the following eligibility requirements for the scholarship. The individual applying for a scholarship must: 1. Be a classroom teacher as defined in section 1012.01(2)(a), F.S., who is employed by a Florida school district, charter school or the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (FSDB) in 2017-2018; 2. Submit an official record that demonstrates his or her composite score on either the ACT or SAT was at or above the 80th percentile based on the National Rank in effect when the assessment was taken; and

Eligibility Criteria Continued… 3. A. Be newly hired by the district school board and not have been evaluated pursuant to section 1012.34, or B. Have received an evaluation of highly effective on his or her evaluation for the school year immediately preceding the year in which the scholarship will be awarded.

Classroom Teacher A “classroom teacher” as defined in section 1012.01(2)(a), F.S., is: Classroom teachers are staff members assigned the professional activity of instructing students in courses in classroom situations, including basic instruction, exceptional student education, career education, and adult education.

Additional Scholarship Awards 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020 SY During the above stated years: 1. Any classroom teacher evaluated as highly effective pursuant to s. 1012.34 in the school year immediately preceding the year in which the scholarship will be awarded shall receive a scholarship of $1200, including a classroom teacher who received an award pursuant to paragraph (a). (Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship)

Additional Scholarship Awards 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020 SY During the above stated years: 2. Any classroom teacher evaluated as effective pursuant to s. 1012.34 in the school year immediately preceding the year in which the scholarship will be awarded shall receive a scholarship of up to $800. If the number of eligible number of classroom teachers under this subparagraph exceeds the total allocation, the department shall prorate the per-teacher scholarship amount. This paragraph expires July 1, 2020.

Deadlines No later than November 1, 2018: An eligible teacher must submit an official score report of his or her SAT or ACT score demonstrating that the teacher scored at or above the 80th percentile based on the percentile ranks in effect when the teacher took the assessment to the school district. By December 1, 2018: The school district must submit the number of eligible classroom teachers who qualify for the scholarship to the Department of Education.

Deadlines By February 1, 2019: The department will disburse scholarship funds to each school district for each eligible classroom teacher to receive a scholarship. By April 1, 2019: Each school district will award the scholarship to each eligible classroom teacher.

Eligibility Questions The statute requires that each district school board determine the eligibility of classroom teachers who qualify for the scholarship and make its own decision regarding eligibility questions.

Information Provided to Teachers 8/10/2018 Informational Email to all Instructional Employees A. 2018-2019 Staff Notification Email B. 2018 Florida Statute 1012.731 C. District Contact Information D. 2018 Application Form

Information Provided to Teachers 8/10/2017 Additional Informational Email to all Instructional Employees A. Feedback to Frequently Asked Questions from Teachers Attached Application Form and Eligibility Criteria