A state teachers’ union has filed a federal complaint over a Florida teacher-bonus program that the union alleges discriminates against teachers based on age and race.
In the state budget, $44 million was earmarked for the best teachers, based on their effectiveness ratings as well as their SAT and ACT scores, even if they took those exams decades ago.
In the complaint filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Florida Commission on Human Relations, the Florida Education Association alleges that the bonus program discriminated against older teachers who had trouble accessing their test scores and against teachers of color who historically do worse on standardized tests.