Teacher evaluations: Orange County teachers and school officials agree on a new evaluation process that will drastically increase the number of teachers earning a "highly effective" rating. Teachers need that rating to be eligible for bonuses under the state's Best and Brightest program. Only 2.4 percent of the district's 13,000 teachers received highly effective ratings in the 2014-2015 school year. With the changes, as many as 78 percent will. Orlando Sentinel. Not a single Orange or Seminole county teacher will receive an unsatisfactory rating for the 2015-2016 school year. Orlando Sentinel.

Teacher pay raises: The Palm Beach County School Board approves an average 3 percent pay raise for the district's teachers. Most of the district's 13,000 teachers will get at least $1,300 more, and some could get as much as $1,700. Starting pay increases slightly from $40,775 to $41,000. The union still has to ratify the agreement. Sun-Sentinel.

Teacher job security: Pasco County School Superintendent Kurt Browning says the move by some districts to guarantee annual contract renewals to teachers with effective or highly effective ratings goes against the legislative intent when tenure was ended. Gradebook. (more…)