When Florida’s legislature set aside $44 million last year to award state teachers hefty bonuses based on their SAT and ACT scores, many didn’t think the program would last due to the immediate controversy that followed.

The program, called “The Best and the Brightest,” was pushed by Rep. Erik Fresen in order to attract exactly that to Florida schools. By incentivizing teachers with higher scores on college admissions exams, Fresen and supporters believe that e high-performing students will be more interested in being teachers in the state.

The controversy revolves not around how the program effects new teachers- but how if effects experienced ones. Many veteran teachers took their college admissions exams decades ago- if they did at all. Opponents of the program argue that for this reason, the program is discriminatory against experienced teachers. Though the program allowed older teachers 

Others said it’s nothing more than a quick fix to a larger problem.

'If the state of Florida truly cared about education, it would be rewarding all effective teachers for remaining in the profession, improving working conditions, and offering incentives to those entering the profession with the proper education and credentials,'" commented music teacher Kevin Strang to The Tampa Bay Times last year.

Despite the controversy, the Florida state legislature decided to continue the Best and the Brightest program in February. 

Now, the program is expanding in some districts that are choosing to let all employees on on the instructional salary pay scale, not just teachers, be eligible for the scholarship’s benefits.

According to WJHG.com, Bay District Schools is one of the districts that has made the decision to include all employees- which includes professionals like guidance counselors and coaches.

The district’s Superintendent Bill Husfelt told WJHG that the decision was a confusing one to make, though he’s excited about the possibilities.

"It's been very confusing...It’s been confusing all across the state. DOE didn't want to give us much direction, they put it back on the board and I think the board made a fair decision based on all the information they had,” he said.

Read the full story here.

Nicole Gorman, Senior Education World Contributor

8/10/2016