Palm Beach schools approves largest pay increase in decades for district teachers

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The School District of Palm Beach County announced Wednesday the largest pay increase in over 25 years for Palm Beach County teachers.

“Our educators work tirelessly on behalf of our students, and we were thrilled to propose this historic pay increase to the Classroom Teachers Association,” Superintendent Mike Burke said. “This well-deserved raise reflects the largest increase in teacher pay in over 25 years.”

District teachers are scheduled to receive a 7% average performance-based increase which includes a one-time 3% bonus for instructional employees, according to a press release. The announcement was agreed to by the Classroom Teachers Association (CTA) and the Palm Beach County School Board.

“The School Board always prioritizes teacher compensation in the budget and this raise demonstrates our appreciation for our dedicated teachers,” Burke continued. “We hope this also helps us recruit more high-quality teachers.”

Over the past two school years, Palm Beach Schools has gradually raised teacher pay. The district increased teacher compensation by 3.5% during fiscal year 2021-22 and 2022-23. Palm Beach schools also raised teacher pay by 3% in fiscal year 2020-21.

Instructional staff will continue further to be supplemented up to $10,000 from a county approved referendum in place since fiscal year 2020.

Palm Beach schools estimated over $95 million will be dedicated to the increases. The raises are expected to be certified by mid-October with teachers seeing a reflection in their paychecks by November.