The purpose of this new rule is to implement the Merit Award Program authorized by Section 1012.225, Florida Statutes, which was created by the 2007 Florida Legislature. The Merit Award Program is a voluntary, state-funded performance pay program through which a Florida school district may award performance bonuses to its highest performing instructional and administrative personnel. This rule is proposed in compliance with subsection (7) of the new statute requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules pertaining to three components of the Merit Award Program.