TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s teachers’ union is voicing strong concerns about Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposed budget for education. They believe it doesn’t adequately support public schools or the needs of students. The union is calling on lawmakers to increase funding for education.
The Florida Education Association (FEA) points out that the budget ignores key issues like low teacher salaries, a shortage of staff, and declining student performance. While the budget offers minor pay raises for teachers, the union says these increases won’t keep up with inflation and won’t improve funding per student significantly.
During his announcement of the budget, Governor DeSantis mentioned, “The state of Florida doesn’t set teacher salaries” since those are determined at the district level, often through negotiations with school unions. He also suggested that unions have other interests that may not align with helping teachers directly.
Florida’s average teacher salaries are among the lowest in the country, and the FEA argues that the budget does little to change that. Another major concern is the governor’s focus on school vouchers, which would allocate $3.3 billion to allow students to attend private schools using taxpayer money. This amount is more than double what is set aside for teacher salaries.
Additionally, there’s a proposed 13% cut in funding for Exceptional Student Education (ESE). FEA President Andrew Spar expressed disappointment, stating that students with special needs have been underserved. He emphasized the need for better classroom support, including teacher assistants and smaller class sizes.
The FEA is advocating for lawmakers to add $1,000 per student in funding. They also want improvements to aging school buildings and a reduction in standardized testing. Moreover, they are calling for stricter oversight of private and charter schools that receive public funds.
“Florida continues to underfund its public schools,” Spar said. “We rank 50th in average teacher pay nationwide. This budget keeps us at the bottom, which isn’t acceptable.” Educational funding is crucial, especially during such a challenging time for schools.
As lawmakers prepare to meet on March 4 for the new legislative session, the discussion about education funding in Florida is just beginning.
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