Florida’s Teacher and Staff Vacancies Signal a Retention Crisis at a Breaking Point

The latest teacher and staff vacancy numbers are out, and the most recent data shows an uptick in teacher and staff vacancies, meaning that public schools all over the state are starting the second half of the school year without enough bus drivers, paraprofessionals, custodial staff, cafeteria workers, teachers and so many others who are essential to keeping students healthy and safe in fully functioning public schools.

By the middle of the school year, most positions should already be filled. Instead, with thousands of vacancies still halfway through the year, the data reflects a larger problem: these vacancies aren’t just unfilled but are positions that districts simply can’t fill. While it’s not unusual to see some vacancies at the beginning of the school year, the number of unfilled positions has increased since August 2025—a troubling sign that the situation is getting worse, not better. At the same time, turnover is accelerating, with 31% of teachers last year having fewer than four years of experience. Together, these trends show a system stuck in churn, not recovery, and a retention crisis that continues to disrupt student learning.

Florida’s $4.4 billion unaccountable voucher program, coupled with a statewide affordability crisis that has pushed Floridians out of the state due to skyrocketing living costs and policies targeting migrant communities, has led to a decline in enrollment in public schools. Even still, thousands of vacancies remain, which shows us that districts are struggling to retain qualified educators.

The year-over-year drop in vacancies we’ve seen so far is largely the result of deep budget cuts and eliminated positions, not meaningful and sustainable improvement. Meanwhile, the number of certified teachers being replaced with out-of-field or temporary teachers has nearly doubled over the last five years. At the same time, districts that struggle to fill positions may leave positions unadvertised because they have temporarily filled the position with uncertified substitutes, allowing the state to sugarcoat the real extent of the problem. It’s our students and schools that pay the price, and it’s clear the state is choosing to ignore the root cause.

“While the Commissioner of Education will likely try to rewrite the facts, the truth is, if even one child walks into a classroom this semester without a permanent, certified educator, that is one too many,” said Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar. “It’s unacceptable for students to cycle through four or five different teachers in a single year, because consistency is key to student success. Yet, between the micromanagement of classrooms, overbearing regulations, and Florida ranking 50th in average teacher pay, our educators and education staff professionals are being chased out of the profession. Lawmakers must take responsibility and address this crisis head-on. Parents and voters are demanding stronger public schools. They want lawmakers to strengthen Florida’s public schools, not abandon them.”

At the Florida Education Association, we believe every child deserves access to a world-class, free public education. The promise of public education, as required by the Florida Constitution, can be realized, but only if state leaders choose to act. Florida needs an Education Commissioner and a State Board of Education who are committed to strengthening public schools, not handing them off to billionaires and outside interests. We need real leadership that respects educators, invests in fair pay, and fully funds the resources students need to succeed. Strong public schools happen when leaders make them a priority and invest in Florida’s future.

The Florida Education Association counts vacancies posted on district websites twice annually, in August and January. A county-by-county breakdown of the vacancy numbers can be found here.