Admin

Best and Brightest

Florida's 2019-2020 Best & Brightest
Scholarship Program

The state of Florida created the Best and Brightest Scholarship Program (F.S. 1012.731) to recruit, retain, and recognize teachers. Eligible school list provided by FLDOE. This is a State funded program, with the District confirming qualified recipients based on requirements defined by the statute

Retention

Requirement

Award Amount
  • Classroom Teacher*
  • Highly Effective
  • Teach 2 consecutive school years including the current year (2018-19 and 2019-20) which improved an average of 3 percentage points or more in school grades over the prior 3 years (See eligible school list provided by FLDOE above.)

Up to $2,500
  • Classroom Teacher*
  • Effective
  • Teach 2 consecutive school years including the current year (2018-19 and 2019-20) which improved an average of 3 percentage points or more in school grades over the prior 3 years {See eligible school list provided by FLDOE above.)

Up to $1,000

Recruitment

Requirement

Award Amount
  • Newly Hired Classroom Teacher to OCPS*
  • "Content expert," based on criteria established by FLDOE, in mathematics, science, computer science, reading or civics.

Up to $4,000

(Per State guidance, amount may be prorated lower if State allocation is not sufficient.)

*The Florida Department of Education has clarified eligibility criteria for teachers who may qualify for the award are defined under F.S. 1012(2)(a): Classroom teachers

The gross amounts paid to employees are less OCPS' portion of FICA (7.65%). From that, the employee must also pay federal taxes.

Recognition

Requirement

Award Amount
  • Instructional Personnel (not limited to classroom teachers)
  • Rated as highly effective or effective, and selected by his or her school principal, based on performance criteria and policies adopted by the district school board
  • The final criteria will be negotiated between CTA and the District.

Not a set limit, but recognition awards must be provided from funds remaining after the payment of all teacher recruitment and retention awards and all principal awards.

Teachers who qualified for the Best and Brightest Scholarship in years past, may or may not qualify for this year's program and the amounts are different than in the past.

Frequently Asked Questions

2019-20 Best and Brightest Bonus FAQs

Additional Information

FLDOE FAQs

Additional Questions:

Email [email protected] - please include your name and personnel number for the fastest response.