Governors’ Budget Proposal is Opportunity for Legislature to Fully Commit to Students and Public-School Funding

The Governor’s proposed budget once again fails to support our students by not adequately funding our public, neighborhood schools and does nothing to move our teachers into the top 10 in the nation for salary.

While there are nominal increases in funding across some areas (outlined below) the Governor’s proposal slashes critical funding for special needs students, offers inadequate funds for wage increases for educators and support staff that don’t keep pace with inflation, and does not move the needle on per student funding. Florida’s 50^th place ranking in average teacher pay, an ongoing teacher and staff crisis, declining SAT scores, and slipping national performance in reading and math are clear indicators that our current policies are failing our students.

Of note in the Governor’s proposal is an emerging trend of asking for funding after making promises to taxpayers that certain measures would have no or low fiscal impact, only increasing government waste during a time when Florida may be facing a budget shortfall. After assuring Floridians that SB 256 — the anti-worker bill that removed the ability for educators to pay dues from their paychecks — would have no cost to taxpayers, his budget now seeks an additional $1.7 million for the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) to manage the increased workload created by this very law, bringing the total cost to taxpayers to well over $3 million. Equally alarming is the Governor’s prioritization of Florida’s underregulated voucher program. His budget allocates $3.3 billion to this program – double the amount set aside for teacher salaries.  Today, estimates reveal that 70% of voucher students have never attended public schools, meaning public tax dollars are being used as private tuition assistance for families who could already afford it. This proposal also ignores the $4 billion that is siphoned from public education to fund corporate-run charter schools and voucher programs — initiatives originally sold to Floridians as cost-effective solutions meant to help low-income families.

“Educators in Florida want what every hardworking American wants: to pay their bills with a single job, have healthcare without premiums that push them into debt, work without political interference, and retire with dignity after a lifetime of service. They want to build better lives for themselves and their families,” said Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar. “This budget proposal is legislators’ chance to take a bold stand and commit to our students, educators and their constituents by fully investing in public education. As we head into this legislative session, we are eager to work with leaders in Florida’s Legislature to focus on what truly matters: providing the resources and support educators and students need to thrive. Now is the time to prioritize the resources and policies that will strengthen our schools, uplift our communities, and help build better lives for every child in Florida.”

Our Path Forward

This legislative session, we are looking forward to working with pro-public education leaders on real solutions and long-term strategies that will truly support Florida’s students and educators, including:

• Investing just $1,000 more per student annually so they can get a world-class education.
• Fully funding Public Education Captial Outlay (PECO) so schools are free of mold, water fountains are free of lead, and every school has working air-conditioning and proper ventilation.
• Prioritizing developmentally appropriate, teacher-led assessments over mandated standardized tests.
• Safeguarding families from unaccountable private and charter schools that profit off our children.

When we come together, we can build a stronger future for our students and ensure that every child in Florida has access to the high-quality public education they deserve. Our children’s future depends on it.  FEA’s full legislative agenda can be found here.

Below are some budget proposal takeaways:

• Base Student Allocation (BSA): The proposal increases the BSA by $94.94, bringing the total to $5,425.92, a 1.78% increase over the previous year.
  • This minimal increase fails to make any meaningful impact, continuing to deprive students of the resources they desperately need to succeed.
• Total Per-Student Funding: For public school students, total per-student funding increases by $204 (+2.27%), bringing the new total to $9,204. In contrast, voucher students receive a larger increase of $222 (+4.34%).
  • When adjusted for inflation, the first budget the Governor signed in 2019-2020 provided $9,406 per student. This means the current proposal represents an actual $202 decline in per pupil funding compared to his first budget.
  • These increases fail to keep pace with inflation, offering little to no improvement in the resources available to students.
• Teacher Salary Allocation: The budget allocates an additional $246.7 million for classroom teacher and instructional personnel salary increases, a 19.66% increase over last year’s $1.25 billion allocation.
  • The $1.25 billion is just the baseline needed to prevent pay cuts and maintain Florida’s 50th place ranking in average teacher pay. The additional $27 million, spread among roughly 200,000 educators and support staff, amounts to about $1,400 per person before taxes. After deductions, each person will only see around $1,000 annually – an insultingly low amount given the rising cost of living.
• Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Guaranteed Allocation: Funding for ESE services is reduced by 13.02% ($169 million).
  • This significant cut is a devasting blow to the special needs students who are already facing critical staff shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and limited resources.

Other Notable Funding Changes:

• School safety, mental health, and transportation funding receive small increases.
  • Small increases in these areas are insufficient to address the rising costs schools face, particularly in transportation. Without adequate funding, schools are forced to divert general funds, further straining budgets meant for teacher salaries and classroom resources.
• The Educational Enhancement Allocation, which funds reading programs and school turnaround initiatives, faces a significant decrease.
  • These reductions will keep struggling schools trapped in a cycle, depriving students of the support they need to succeed.

Overall Budget and Voucher Program Impact

• Total Education Budget (Including Vouchers): $29.66 billion, a 4.14% increase over the previous year.
• Total Education Budget (Excluding Vouchers): $26.66 billion, a 2.60% increase over the previous year.
• Total Voucher Program Allocation: $3.3 billion, reflecting a 4.34% per-student increase compared to 2.27% for public school students.
  • Voucher students continue to consume a growing share of funding at the expense of the vast majority of Florida’s students. That means public school students are becoming increasingly disadvantaged and, ultimately, are set up to get left behind their voucher peers.

Policy Changes

• Voucher Student Re-Evaluations: The bill removes the requirement for school districts to provide on-demand re-evaluations for voucher students within 30 days, transferring this responsibility to the Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS) in each region.

Florida Retirement System (FRS) Employer Contributions

• The budget proposes a 0.4% increase in the employer contribution rate for regular class employees in the Florida Retirement System (FRS): The regular employer contribution rate will increase from 6.73% to 7.10%; the actuarially determined catch-up rate will rise slightly from 4.84% to 4.87%; the employee contribution remains unchanged at 3% of total compensation; the total employer contribution rate will increase from 11.57% on July 1, 2024, to 11.97% on July 1, 2025.