Teachers Appealing Merit Pay Ruling

Florida's teacher union is appealing a recent ruling that upheld the state's contentious teacher evaluation law.

A federal judge in May concluded the 2011 law was unfair but stated there was no legal reason to overturn it.

Seven teachers from three counties, as well as the Florida Education Association, contended that the 2011 law tying teacher evaluations and pay to standardized testing is unconstitutional.

U.S District Judge Mark Walker dismissed the lawsuit. FEA President Andy Ford said in a statement that Walker erred in concluding the evaluation system is rational. The appeal is being filed with a federal appeals court in Atlanta.

Gov. Charlie Crist vetoed the measure in 2010, but Gov. Rick Scott approved it the following year.

The seven teachers are from Alachua, Escambia and Hernando counties.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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