TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A federal judge has given preliminary approval to a settlement that calls for the state to pay $15.5 million in a class-action lawsuit alleging discrimination in the controversial "Best and Brightest" teacher-bonus program. He will hold what is known as a "fairness" hearing in March, after which he could give final approval to the settlement. The lawsuit has focused on a decision by state lawmakers to partly base Best and Brightest bonuses on teachers' scores on SAT and ACT college-admission exams. Under the settlement, money will go to black and Hispanic classroom teachers who were rated as "highly effective" but did not receive Best and Brightest bonuses since the program took effect in 2015. The settlement creates a formula for determining the amount of payments to black and Hispanic teachers who are eligible.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The powerful chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee filed a proposal Friday that would repeal the state's long-controversial "Best and Brightest" teacher bonus program. Ron DeSantis has been working on a teacher-compensation plan and told reporters recently that the framework of the Best and Brightest program is "very complicated" and that he might not necessarily want to include the program as part of his plan. Also, Bradley's bill came after the state agreed to pay $15.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that focused on allegations that the Best and Brightest program discriminated against black and Hispanic teachers. Those allegations stemmed from the state's past use of teachers' scores on ACT and SAT college-entrance exams in helping determine whether teachers should receive bonuses. Under the settlement, which is pending before a federal judge, money would go to black and Hispanic classroom teachers who were rated as "highly effective" but did not receive Best and Brightest bonuses since the program took effect in 2015.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Department of Education officials latest budget proposal does not include any additional funding for a controversial teacher bonus program, which is currently facing a legal challenge. The funding proposal comes a month after lawyers slapped the state with a lawsuit alleging education officials improperly allowed school districts to deduct employer taxes from employees promised bonuses. Lawyers with the law firm Morgan & Morgan claim state officials shortchanged high-performing teachers and principals out of tens of thousands of dollars. Funding for the bonus program was tucked in the state agencys newly released budget request, which the Board of Education unanimously approved Wednesday. The budget proposal, which outlines the priorities of state education officials, calls on legislators to boost spending for mental health services and school security.