Public education in Florida

K-12 education in Florida

Education facts

State superintendent: Manny Diaz Jr.

Number of students: 2,838,866

Number of teachers: 163,558

Teacher/pupil ratio: 1:17

Number of school districts: 69

Number of schools: 4,202

Graduation rate: 87%

Per-pupil spending: $9,937

See also

Florida Department of Education • List of school districts in Florida • Florida • School boards portal

Public education in the United States Public education in Florida Glossary of education terms

Note: The statistics on this page are mainly from government sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. Figures given were the most recent as of June 2015.

The Florida public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2022, Florida had 2,838,866 students enrolled in a total of 4,202 schools in 69 school districts. There were 163,558 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 17 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. In 2020, Florida spent on average $9,937 per pupil.^[1] The state's graduation rate was 87 percent in the 2018-2019 school year.^[2]

General information

See also: General comparison table for education statistics in the 50 states and Education spending per pupil in all 50 states

The following chart shows how Florida compares to the national level for the most recent years for which data is available.

Academic performance

The sections below do not contain the most recently published data on this subject. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.

Education terms
For more information on education policy terms, see this article.
School board elections portal Glossary of education terms School choice on the ballot Education on the ballot

NAEP scores

See also: NAEP scores by state

The National Center for Education Statistics provides state-by-state data on student achievement levels in mathematics and reading in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The chart below presents the percentage of fourth and eighth grade students that scored at or above proficient in reading and math during school year 2012-2013. Florida's scores were higher than its neighboring states (Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi). The state's grade four reading scores were also higher than the national average.^[3]

Graduation, ACT and SAT scores

See also: Graduation rates by groups in state and ACT and SAT scores in the United States

The following table shows the graduation rates and average composite ACT and SAT scores for Florida and surrounding states during the 2012-2013 school year. All statements made in this section refer to that school year.^[4][5][6]

In the United States, public schools reported graduation rates that averaged to about 81.4 percent. About 54 percent of all students in the country took the ACT, while 50 percent reported taking the SAT. The average national composite scores for those tests were 20.9 out of a possible 36 for the ACT, and 1498 out of a possible 2400 for the SAT.^[7]

Florida schools reported a graduation rate of 75.6 percent during the 2012-2013 school year, second highest among its neighboring states.

In Florida, more students took the ACT than the SAT in 2013, earning an average ACT score of 19.6.

Dropout rate

See also: Public high school dropout rates by state for a full comparison of dropout rates by group in all states

The high school event dropout rate indicates the proportion of students who were enrolled at some time during the school year and were expected to be enrolled in grades nine through 12 in the following school year but were not enrolled by October 1 of the following school year. Students who have graduated, transferred to another school, died, moved to another country, or who are out of school due to illness are not considered dropouts. The average public high school event dropout rate for the United States remained constant at 3.3 percent for both school year 2010–2011 and school year 2011–2012. The event dropout rate for Florida was lower than the national average at 2.1 percent in the 2010-2011 school year, and 2.1 percent in the 2011-2012 school year.^[8]

Educational choice options

See also: School choice in Florida

More students in Florida take online courses than in any other state. Other school choice options open to students in Florida include charter schools, homeschooling, scholarship programs, private schools and two public school open enrollment policies.

Developments

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Media coverage and commentary
U.S. Supreme Court 2019-2020 term
Blaine Amendment (U.S. Constitution)
Blaine amendments in state constitutions
School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

See also: Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which concerned whether the government can exclude religious institutions from student-aid programs. The case related to Article X, Section 6 of the Montana Constitution, also known as Montana’s Blaine Amendment.^[9]

In its 5-4 opinion, the court held that the application of Article X, Section 6 violated the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution. The majority held Article X, Section 6 barred religious schools and parents who wished to send their children to those schools from receiving public benefits because of the religious character of the school.^[10]

The case addressed the tension between the free exercise and Establishment clauses of the U.S. Constitution—where one guarantees the right of individuals' free exercise of religion and the other guarantees that the state won't establish a religion—and the intersections of state constitutions with state law and with the U.S. Constitution.

Florida is one of the states with a Blaine Amendment.

Education funding and expenditures

See also: Florida state budget and finances

Breakdown of expenditures by function in fiscal year 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

According to the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), states spent an average of 19.8 percent of their total budgets on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. In addition, the United States Census Bureau found that approximately 45.6 percent of the country's school system revenue came from state sources, while about 45.3 percent came from local sources. The remaining portion of school system revenue came from federal sources.^[11][12]

Florida spent approximately 19.3 percent of its budget on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. The state school systems' revenue came primarily from local funds. Florida's percentage of its budget spent on education was the second lowest when compared to its neighboring states.

Revenue breakdowns

See also: Public school system revenues in the U.S. to compare all states.

According to the United States Census Bureau, public school system revenues totaled approximately $598 billion in fiscal year 2013.^[12]

In Florida, the primary source of school system revenue was local funds, at $12.2 billion. This was nearly half of Florida's total school system revenue. Florida was the only state, when compared to its neighbors, that received most of its revenue from local sources.

Expenditure breakdowns

See also: Public school system expenditures in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public school system expenditures totaled approximately $602 billion in fiscal year 2012.^[13]

Public education expenditures in Florida totaled approximately $25.8 billion in fiscal year 2012. This was the highest amount of total expenditures when compared to Florida's neighboring states.

Personnel salaries

See also: Public school teacher salaries in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average national salary for classroom teachers in public elementary and secondary schools declined by 1.3 percent from the 1999-2000 school year to the 2012-2013 school year. During the same period in Florida, the average salary decreased by 6.5 percent.^[15]

Organizations

State agencies

See also: Florida Department of Education

The Florida Department of Education serves as the state's repository of education data, which allows the department to track student performance over time. The Department of Education also administers a statewide reading initiative with the goal of every child in the state reading at or above grade level.^[16] Pam Stewart was appointed as the Florida Commissioner of Education in 2013.^[17]

The Florida State Board of Education has eight members, including a chair, a vice chair and the Commissioner of Education.^[18]

The mission statement of the Florida State Board of Education reads:^[19]

Unions

In 2012, the Fordham Institute and Education Reform Now assessed the power and influence of state teacher unions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their rankings were based on 37 different variables in five broad areas, including resources and membership, involvement in politics, scope of bargaining, state policies and perceived influence. Florida ranked 50th overall for union power and influence, or "weakest", which was in the fifth tier of five.^[21]

List of local Florida school unions:

• Florida Education Association
• United Teachers Of Dade
• Hillsborough County Class Room Teachers Association
• American Federation Of Teachers (Jacksonville)
• American Federation Of Teachers (Tallahassee)
• Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association
• Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association Inc
• Sarasota Classified Teachers Association
• Collier County Education Association Inc

Issues

• In March 2008, the statewide school union, Florida Education Association, threatened to sue after state officials announced a possible increase in funds for the state’s corporate tax credit scholarship program which provides financial aid to students transferring to alternative public or private schools. After that announcement, the union stated that if programs tripled in five years they might also take the corporate tax credit program to court.^[22]
• The teachers union previously challenged the "opportunity scholarship program," which provides aid to students attending failing schools to transfer to alternative public or private schools. In 2006, a court ruling ended the private school option of the program.^[22]

Government sector lobbying

See also: Florida government sector lobbying

As of 2009, 27 Florida school districts had registered lobbyists, and at least 52 school districts were members of the Florida School Boards Association, the main education government sector lobbying organization.^[23]

On June 10, 2009, Governor Charlie Crist signed into law a bill that prevents taxpayer funded organizations from using taxpayer money on political advertisements. The law took effect July 1, 2009 but still allowed school boards, cities and counties to distribute ballot information as long as it was "factual."^[24]

Transparency

See also: Evaluation of Florida school district websites

• In June 2009, a Florida circuit court judge ruled that "a man has no right to have access to thousands of names, addresses and telephone numbers of employees and their dependents enrolled in the Manatee County School District’s health insurance plan." Circuit Judge Edward Nicholas said the information was exempt under Florida law and could not be requested. The ruling came to light after Joel Chandler made a public records request for health insurance information from all the Florida school districts.^[25]
• In early 2009, Senator Mike Fasano sponsored Senate Bill 468. The bill proposed to exempt personal identifying information regarding the health and benefit coverage of public school employees from the Sunshine Law. The transparency legislation was proposed in reaction to the outcry that arose after Joel Chandler requested the information.^[26]

Studies and reports

Quality Counts 2014

See also: Education Week survey

Education Week, a publication that reports on many education issues throughout the country, began using an evaluation system in 1997 to grade each state on various elements of education performance. This system, called Quality Counts, uses official data on performance from each state to generate report cards for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report card in 2014 uses six different categories:

1. Chance for success
2. K-12 achievement
3. Standards, assessments and accountability
4. The teaching profession
5. School finance
6. Transitions and alignment

Each of these six categories had a number of other elements that received individual scores. Those scores were then averaged and used to determine the final score in each category. Every state received two types of scores for each of the six major categories: A numerical score out of 100 and a letter grade based on that score. Education Week used the score for the first category, "chance for success," as the value for ranking each state and the District of Columbia. The average grade received in the entire country was 77.3, or a C+ average. The country's highest average score was in the category of "standards, assessments and accountability" at 85.3, or a B average. The lowest average score was in "K-12 achievement", at 70.2, or a C- average.

Florida received a score of 75.3, or a C average in the "chance for success" category. This was above/below the national average. The state's highest score was in "standards, assessments and accountability" at 95, or an A average. The lowest score was in "school finance" at 70.0, or a C- average. The state received another A in the "transitions and alignment" category. The chart below displays the scores of Florida and its surrounding states.^[27]

Note: Click on a column heading to sort the data.

ABCs of School Choice

The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice publishes a comprehensive guide to private school choice programs across the U.S. In its 2014 edition, the Foundation reviewed Florida's John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program and Florida's tax credit scholarship program. The John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program gives vouchers to students with disabilities or 504 plans so that they can attend private school or other public schools. The Foundation found that the John M. McKay Scholarships program has solid funding power and is limited only in that it is offered exclusively to students with disabilities. Florida's tax credit scholarship program gives tax credits to corporations who donate to Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFOs). The Foundation found that the program is limited because it is only offered to students who qualify for free or reduced lunches or to students who are in foster care. The Foundation recommends the program increases student eligibility.^[28] The full Friedman Foundation report can be found here.

State Budget Solutions education study

See also: State spending on education v. academic performance (2012)

State Budget Solutions examined national trends in education from 2009 to 2011, including state-by-state analysis of education spending, graduation rates and average ACT scores. The study showed that the states that spent the most did not have the highest average ACT test scores, nor did they have the highest average graduation rates. A summary of the study is available here. The full report can be accessed here.

School districts

See also: School board elections portal

District types

All K-12 districts in Florida are county-wide school systems. Each county area in the state constitutes a school district for the administration and the operation of public schools.^[29]

School board composition

School board members are generally elected by residents of the school district, however all vacancies are filled by appointment of the governor. School boards must include at least five members by state law; across the state, boards typically have seven to nine members. They serve four-year terms that are staggered. Districts with five-member school boards must be divided into five member residence areas and districts with seven must either be divided into seven member residence areas or five member residence areas, with one member elected from each area and two members elected at large.^[30]

Term limits

As of a 2012 Supreme Court ruling, charter counties can impose term limits on locally-elected officials.^[31]

Elections

See also: Florida school board elections, 2024

The table below contains links to all school board elections covered by Ballotpedia in 2024 in this state. This list may not include all school districts with elections in 2024. Ballotpedia's coverage includes all school districts in the 100 largest cities by population and the 200 largest school districts by student enrollment.

Editor's note: Some school districts choose to cancel the primary election, or both the primary and general election, if the number of candidates who filed does not meet a certain threshold. The table below does not reflect which primary or general elections were canceled. Please click through to each school district's page for more information.

Path to the ballot

Florida state law requires that all candidates at the time of qualifying take an oath that they are qualified electors of their county. In order to qualify as such, a candidate must be a resident of Florida and the county wherein he or she registers to vote. Although the completed oath is an affirmation at the time of execution that the candidate meets the requirements for qualifying such as residency, in practice, the candidate is expected to meet the requirements at the time of assuming office unless otherwise provided for constitutionally, legislatively or judicially.^[32]

Campaign finance

Candidates and committees must report all contributions, loans, expenditures, distributions and transfers, regardless of the amount. They must report the full name and address of each person making the contribution or receiving the expenditure and, for contributions over $100, the occupation.^[33]

Recent legislation

The following is a list of recent education bills that have been introduced in or passed by the Florida state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

Education ballot measures

See also: Education on the ballot and List of Florida ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following statewide ballot measures relating to education.

1. Florida Amendment 6, Education of Children Amendment (1998)
2. Florida Amendment 8, 4-Year-Old Pre-Kindergarten Initiative (2002)
3. Florida Amendment 9, Funding for Limited Class Sizes Initiative (2002)
4. Florida Amendment 8, Education System Amendment (1978)
5. Florida Appointment of School Superintendent Amendment (May 1968)
6. Florida Amendment 11, Administration of the State University System Initiative (2002)
7. Florida Amendment 8, Sales Tax for Community College Funding Amendment (2008)
8. Florida Amendment 1, School Construction Program Supported by Bonds Amendment (1974)
9. Florida Amendment 2, Bonds for Student Loans Amendment (March 1972)
10. Florida Forced Busing, Straw Poll 1 (March 1972)
11. Florida Equal Opportunity Education, Straw Poll 2 (March 1972)
12. Florida School Prayer, Straw Poll 3 (March 1972)
13. Florida Amendment 4, Motor Vehicle Licensing Revenue for Education Amendment (1972)
14. Florida Amendment 7, Taxes for Capital Improvement Purposes for Schools Amendment (1970)
15. Florida Amendment 8, County Superintendents of Public Instruction Amendment (1956)
16. Florida Amendment 1, Funds of Education Capital Projects Amendment (1952)
17. Florida Amendment 2, Educational Bonds Amendment (1948)
18. Florida Raising of Revenue for the State Amendment (1938)
19. Florida School Districts and Tax Levy Amendment (1928)
20. Florida County School Funds Amendment (1926)
21. Florida Special Tax School District Bonds Amendment (1924)
22. Florida Creation of School Districts and Taxes Amendment (1922)
23. Florida Maximum School Tax Amendment (1918)
24. Florida Tax for State Educational Institutions Amendment (1908)
25. Florida Maximum County School Tax Amendment (1904)
26. Florida Amendment 8, Funding and Bonds for Education Amendment (1992)
27. Florida Amendment 8, Levy on Gross Receipts for Public Education Construction Amendment (1984)
28. Florida Amendment 2, Appointment of Superintendents of Public Instruction Amendment (1962)
29. Florida Amendment 2, Bonds for Higher Learning Capital Outlay Amendment (1963)
30. Florida Amendment 2, Terms of Office for Boards of College and Universities Amendment (1964)
31. Florida Amendment 3, Motor Vehicle Licensing Revenue for School Purposes Amendment (1964)
32. Florida Amendment 4, Use of State School Funds Amendment (1964)
33. Florida Amendment 5, Appointments of County Superintendents of Public Instruction Amendment (1964)
34. Florida Amendment 6, Taylor County Superintendent of Public Instruction Amendment (1964)
35. Florida Amendment 2, Appointive County Superintendents of Public Instruction Amendment (1966)
36. Florida Prayer in Schools Initiative (2026)
37. Florida Amendment 1, Partisan School Board Elections Amendment (2024)
38. Florida Amendment 7, First Responder and Military Member Survivor Benefits, Supermajority Board Votes for College Fees, and State College System Amendment (2018)
39. Florida Amendment 12, Student Member of the Board of Governors of the State University System Amendment (2012)
40. Florida Amendment 3, State Revenue Limitation Amendment (2012)
41. Florida Amendment 8, Average Class Size Limitation Amendment (2010)
42. Florida Dedicate 40% of State Budget to Education Funding Initiative (2026)

In the news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Florida education policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also

• Historical public education information in Florida
• Florida state budget and finances
• Florida Department of Education
• List of school districts in Florida
• School choice in Florida
• Charter schools in Florida
• Florida
• Education Policy in the U.S.
• School bond and tax elections in Florida

External links

• Florida State Board Rules Under Review
• Florida School Choice
• Florida School Accountability Reports
• Florida Department of Education Budget Office
• Florida Council of Independent Schools
• Florida Public School Rankings by PSK12
• Florida State School Ratings by Great Schools
• Foundation for Excellence in Education website
• James Madison Institute website
• Step Up for Students website
• The Carrie Meek Foundation website
• Florida State Education Data Profile
• Florida vendors
• Get Lean Florida
• Florida Sunshine Manual
• Florida's Merit Award Legislation

Footnotes

	v • e State of Florida Tallahassee (capital)
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