Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled his proposed state budget on Sunday evening, outlining nearly $30 billion in funding for K-12 education for the upcoming fiscal year. The proposal, released a month ahead of the legislative session in Tallahassee, includes a $222 per-student funding increase and significant investments in school choice programs and teacher salaries.
Boost in K-12 Education Funding
DeSantis’ budget recommends a $1.3 billion increase for the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), which serves as the primary funding mechanism for K-12 public schools. The proposed allocation of $29.7 billion for the 2025-2026 fiscal year reflects a rise from the current year’s $28.4 billion. If approved, the per-pupil funding investment would increase to $9,205, up from $8,959.
School Choice Expansion
The budget anticipates that approximately 358,000 students will participate in the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, which allows state funds to cover private school tuition. Florida currently serves more than 3.2 million students across public and private institutions. In the present fiscal year, $3.9 billion has been directed toward school choice scholarships, including $2.8 billion from the FEFP and the remainder from tax credit scholarships, according to the Florida Policy Institute.
Teacher Salary Increases
A major highlight of DeSantis’ budget is a $246.7 million increase for teacher salaries, bringing the total eligible for raises to $1.5 billion. The governor emphasized that this investment ensures funds are directed toward educators rather than being absorbed by administrative costs.
The Florida Education Association (FEA), however, continues to push for more substantial funding, advocating for a $1,000 per-student increase to elevate Florida’s teacher salary ranking, which currently sits at 50th in the nation. The FEA has previously criticized the state’s budget increases for failing to adequately support veteran teachers and urged the governor to engage with educators’ unions on salary discussions.
Higher Education and Scholarship Programs
While K-12 education sees an increase, the budget proposes a $200 million reduction in funding for the State University System, allocating $3.9 billion compared to the current $4.1 billion. The Florida College System’s budget remains steady at $1.7 billion.
Despite the cuts, DeSantis reaffirmed his commitment to keeping higher education affordable, continuing his six-year stance against tuition hikes. His budget fully funds the Bright Futures Scholarship Program at $632 million, ensuring qualified students receive up to 100% tuition coverage based on academic performance.
“We are very proud of the fact that if you’re a good student and you want to attend one of our state universities, you can do so with little to no debt,” DeSantis stated, highlighting Florida’s standing as the state with the lowest public university tuition in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Notable Higher Education Shifts
A key proposal within the budget is the transfer of The Ringling Museum from Florida State University to New College of Florida. The museum, which houses a significant portion of Peter Paul Rubens’ Triumph of the Eucharist series, would shift under New College’s purview, including its art museum, the historic Ca’d’Zan mansion, and the Ringling Museum of the Circus.
Investment in Early Childhood Education
The proposed budget also includes $465.8 million for Florida’s voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) program. This funding incorporates $30.1 million in rewards for high-performing providers and $4.1 million for the Summer Bridge Program, designed to support lower-scoring students. The Florida Board of Education recently introduced a rating system for pre-K providers to enhance accountability and quality.
Legislative Considerations
As lawmakers prepare to convene in Tallahassee, DeSantis’ budget proposal will face scrutiny and potential revisions. While it underscores priorities such as school choice, teacher salaries, and tuition affordability, advocacy groups continue to push for increased per-student funding to further strengthen public education.
The Florida Education Association and other stakeholders will likely weigh in as the legislative process unfolds, determining the final allocations for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.