Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) unveiled his commitment to provide a $1.25 billion increase in spending for Florida teachers’ salaries, which will go into effect in the coming school year.

The announcement from DeSantis marks the latest investment to raise the wages for teachers in the Sunshine State, which has invested $4.6 billion under DeSantis’s leadership. The annual salary of Florida teachers for the most recent school year was $48,286, marking an increase of $8,000 in 2019.

“Florida’s education system is No. 1 in the nation, and we want to make sure good educators are attracted to Florida with attractive compensation,” DeSantis said. “I am proud to have invested more than $4 billion for teacher pay increases since the beginning of my time in office, and I will continue to push for increased funding for Florida’s teachers.”

DeSantis touted how Florida ranked No. 1 in education among all 50 states for the second year in a row by U.S. News & World Report, drawing applause from attendees of the press conference.

Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. expressed his thanks for DeSantis’s commitment to helping teachers and argued that his actions help attract new teachers to the state, saying, “Florida continues to attract some of the best educators in the country, and it is a testament to the work that Gov. DeSantis has done to support education and raise teacher pay.

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“Florida is the education state, and with investments like this, we will continue to lead the nation for years to come,” Diaz continued.

Earlier this year, DeSantis signed a bill establishing that Florida students will learn about the “dangers and evils of communism” beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. The State Board of Education also passed a rule to “permanently prohibit” public spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion at public colleges.