Florida Education Association Criticizes Governor’s Budget Proposal
The Florida Education Association (FEA) has voiced concerns over the governor’s recent budget proposal, stating it does not adequately support students, families, or educators in the state.
In a statement released Wednesday, the FEA said, “A budget demonstrates values, and this proposal makes it clear that Florida’s students are not valued by the Governor.” The association emphasized that students should have access to public schools that are safe and focused on learning. They expressed disappointment that the budget did not prioritize investment in curriculum development or address teacher shortages.
According to the FEA, “Despite Florida ranking 45th in the nation in per-student funding and 50th in the nation in average teacher pay, the Governor’s budget offers little to address the waste and abuse of education funding. In fact, instead of fixing these failures, his budget doubles down on them, continuing to support policies that divert billions of taxpayer dollars into the hands of unelected private interests while leaving public schools and their students behind.”
The organization also disputed claims about record investments in educator pay. “And while the Governor continues to tout ‘record’ investments in educator pay, the lived experiences of educators tell a different story. Eight years of broken promises have left them in a financial crisis, struggling to afford rent, homeowners’ insurance, groceries, healthcare, childcare, and other basic day-to-day expenses. This story is all too familiar for many Floridians who know it’s far more expensive to live in Florida now, under the Governor’s leadership, than before he took office.”
The FEA called on lawmakers to take action as they review the proposed budget. “The budget is now in the hands of lawmakers. It is now up to them to right the ship. We’re calling on the Florida Legislature to stand boldly for public schools, where 80 percent of parents proudly opt to send their children, and to pass a budget that strengthens our schools so every child can have the education and future they deserve.”
The FEA represents 120,000 members including PreK-12 teachers, higher education faculty and staff professionals across Florida.
