It’s been many years since Boone High School teacher Kevin Strang took his SAT.
“I remember it wasn’t very good,” said Strang.
Strang’s score didn’t stop him from earning a Master’s degree in Arts and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. He hadn’t thought about it in decades, until he learned last week how it would affect a potential bonus.
“It made me sad, and frankly, insulted,” said Strang. “Then, when I looked at the details of it, it really made me angry, because this is a big waste of tax payer money.”
An item passed in the state budget last month has Strang and many other teachers upset. An estimated $44 million in state funds will go towards awarding teacher bonuses, but it all depends on how they tested.
In order for teachers to qualify for the scholarship, known as the “Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program,” they have to have scored in the 80th percentile or above on their ACT or SAT. They also have to earn a highly effective teacher rating.
Teachers who meet the requirements are able to earn an additional $10,000 for next year. The amount would decrease after 4,400 teachers are awarded.
School districts are still waiting for direction from the state on how to apply for the scholarship.
In Brevard county, teacher Marcus Hochman is preparing to take a petition to local lawmakers to appeal what he calls an absurd measure.
“This is idiotic, it makes no sense,” said Hochman. “What does this measurement have to do with a teacher’s performance in the classroom? Especially when they took it 20 or 30 years ago, what does that have to do, it’s not relevant.”
The lawmaker who wrote the amendment, Rep. Erik Fresen from Miami, was unavailable for comment Wednesday. His office said he was out of the country until August.
The act states that "research has linked student outcomes to a teacher's own academic achievement."
Former Orange County School Board member and anti-testing advocate Rick Roach said this “shows how out of touch lawmakers are.”