The state's largest teachers' union said the Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis continue "repeated policy failures" to bolster education across the state.
In a statement released late Friday, as the 60-day legislative session ended, the Florida Education Association said the Legislature and governor's actions have led to a decline in SAT scores and reading and math scores, based on data from National Assessment of Educational Progress.
The union also said a teacher and staff shortage has left the state without "qualified, highly trained educators in their classrooms." The FEA reported in January nearly 3,200 teacher vacancies statewide and a rise in the hiring of uncertified teachers.
The FEA said the state is not paying teacher salaries to keep up with inflation, noting that Florida — for the second year in a row — ranked at the bottom in average teacher pay.
The National Education Association reported last year that average pay for Florida teachers climbed to $54,875 in the 2023-24 school year, a 3.3% increase from the previous year. But the NEA said that the increased salary, when adjusted for inflation, fell nearly 13% from 2014-15 to 2023-24.
"We need common sense solutions to public education issues," the FEA said. "Florida needs a new direction."
In February, state Education Secretary Manny Diaz Jr. lauded DeSantis for his support of education.
"Gov. DeSantis has been steadfast in his support of Florida's students, teachers and their families," Diaz said in a statement listing the government's achievements.
The Legislature failed to pass a budget bill on Friday night, but House and Senate leaders agreed on a "framework" to complete when they return May 12.
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