The Florida Board of Education on Friday approved a budget request for the coming fiscal year that would funnel $20.9 billion in state and local tax dollars through the main formula for funding public education.
The proposal, which would mark an increase of $721.6 million from the current year, now heads to Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders for use in crafting the overall spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1.
Recommended Videos
Under the board's request, per-student spending on education would rise from $7,183.92 in the current budget year to $7,359.85 next year, a boost of almost 2.5 percent.
The proposal would also replace the state's controversial Best and Brightest teacher-incentive plan, which is based on educators' scores on college admissions tests, with a different program aimed at recruiting and retaining quality teachers.
But Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said the Department of Education was still developing that idea, which will likely come before the board in October.