FL S0298

Requires school districts that have not yet reached a $47,500 minimum base salary for full-time classroom teachers to use at least 50 percent of their teacher salary increase allocation toward raising that minimum base salary.

Authorizes school districts that have met the $47,500 minimum base salary to use remaining funds to raise salaries of veteran teachers who received less than a 3 percent raise in the previous fiscal year and other full-time instructional personnel.

Authorizes school district boards to use advanced degrees as a criterion in setting salary schedules for instructional personnel and school administrators, removing previous restrictions.

Changes performance salary schedule requirements from mandatory to optional, allowing district school boards to adopt performance-based pay rather than requiring it by July 1, 2014.

Allows instructional personnel on continuing or professional service contracts to continue using their previous salary schedule or opt into a performance salary schedule if they move to annual contracts.