Florida State Sen. Bill Montford, R-Tallahasee, wants to encourage college students to make a career in education. He's proposing creating a scholarship to help pay for teacher certification.
Montford said Florida has a teacher shortage. “For the first time in recent history, we’re having a difficult time attracting a number of qualified applicants, even for elementary school teaching," he said.
Students could receive up to $10,000 a year for two years to help pay for their teacher certification.
“This is a minor degree of assistance for the young people and if it will help, if it will get just a few more teachers, young people into the teaching profession, I will have considered that a success,” he said.
Students could also get a $10,000 bonus for completing their first year of teaching in the state. He says his proposal would complement the state’s Bright Futures scholarship.
