Florida Department of Education Applauds Governor DeSantis’ Continued Commitment to Education in the Focus on Florida’s Future Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25

June 12, 2024

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Florida Department of Education Applauds Governor DeSantis’ Continued Commitment to Education in the Focus on Florida’s Future Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25

~ Governor DeSantis approves over $28 billion to reinforce Florida’s leadership in education ~

Tallahassee, Fla., June 12, 2024 – Today, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) applauds Governor DeSantis’ Focus on Florida’s Future Budget, which continues to raise teacher salaries, make significant per-student investments, and advance Florida’s unrivaled commitment to school choice. Governor DeSantis’ budget includes an additional $201.8 million for teacher salaries, bringing the total to an unprecedented $1.25 billion. Additionally, the Governor approved over $570 million towards school safety and mental health, including $20 million in security funding for Jewish Days Schools and $20 million in school hardening grants for Florida’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

“Governor DeSantis’ steadfast dedication to education is second to none and his continued investments ensure that Florida will lead the nation in education for years to come,” said Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “By securing funding that attracts high-quality teachers, expanding school choice for students and making record investments in programs that prepare our students for the future, Florida will remain #1 in education for years to come.”

The Governor’s Focus on Florida’s Future Budget emphasizes Florida's dedication to providing a world-class education for its students:

• Governor DeSantis signed an additional $201.8 million in funding for school districts to increase teacher salaries, bringing to total to $1.25 billion provided for salary increases in Fiscal Year 2024-25. With this increase, more than $4.6 billion for teacher pay has been invested since 2020.
• Governor DeSantis is proposing record K-12 public school system funding of $28.4 billion. This includes historic per-student funding of $8,959, an increase of $240 over Fiscal Year 2023-24. This funding increase is proof Florida is committed to our students and their academic success.
• The Focus on Florida’s Future budget provides $438 million for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program, of which $4.1 million is provided for the establishment of the Summer Bridge Program to ensure our youngest learners are ready for kindergarten.
• Governor DeSantis is dedicated to making Florida the leading state in workforce education by 2030, investing $100 million in the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program which will propel the state to meet that goal.
• To further support workforce education, the Governor approved $130 million for the PIPELINE and LINE nursing programs.
• Governor DeSantis is investing $10 million in the Florida Civics Seal of Excellence Initiative. This program incentivizes teachers to continue elevating civic literacy through teaching Florida's civics and government standards, ensuring students become well-informed and engaged citizens.

School safety is a top priority for Governor DeSantis. In the Focus on Florida’s Future Budget, the Governor approved $570 million to prioritize school safety and mental health for schools across the state. Key investments include:

• An increase of $40 million in funding for the Safe Schools Allocation, providing a total of $290 million toward our students’ safety.
• An increase of $20 million in funding for the Mental Health Allocation, providing a total of $180 million.
• A total of $20 million in security funding for Jewish Day Schools to further the state’s commitment to the safety of Florida’s Jewish Community.
• An investment of $20 million for facility hardening grants that will assist in keeping Florida’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities safe and secure.

Florida’s success in education is a direct result of Governor DeSantis’ continued investments that support Florida’s teachers, students, and their families. Florida will continue to make significant strides in enhancing the quality of education for all students across the state.

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