Governor Ron DeSantis celebrated the start of the 2026-27 school year by highlighting Florida’s education gains, marking a moment to showcase the state’s continued leadership in K-12 performance and policy. Speaking in Lehigh Acres on August 6, DeSantis emphasized record investments in teachers and student achievement, positioning Florida as a national model for education freedom and academic success.
The 2026-27 budget, signed by DeSantis in June, allocates $30 billion to Florida’s K-12 public school system—a historic investment that brings per-student funding to $9,338, the highest level in state history. This represents a $150 increase per student over the previous year and reflects the state’s commitment to educational resources at a time when many states face budget constraints.
Teacher compensation has emerged as a central focus of the state’s education strategy. The budget dedicates $1.56 billion for salary increases across the teacher workforce, including $200 million specifically directed toward raising salaries for experienced teachers with at least 10 years of service in Florida public schools. Since 2019, Florida has invested more than $7 billion through teacher salary allocations, lifting the state’s average starting teacher salary from $40,000 to $50,200 over that seven-year span.
Student achievement data released alongside the school year announcement shows measurable progress. For the first time in state history, more than 60 percent of Florida students are performing on or above grade level in both English language arts and mathematics. Since 2023, student performance on Florida’s progress monitoring assessments has increased in both subjects, according to the Florida Department of Education.
Florida’s education rankings reflect these investments and policies. The state ranks #1 in education freedom according to The Heritage Foundation for four consecutive years, #1 on the Parent Power Index by the Center for Education Reform for four years running, and #1 in higher education by U.S. News & World Report since the inception of those rankings in 2017. The state also leads in workforce education and received an A+ rating on the ALEC Index of State Education Freedom, marking the only state to achieve that score this year.
The school choice program has expanded significantly under DeSantis’s tenure. The 2026-27 budget accounts for nearly 500,000 students projected to participate in Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship, the state’s primary school choice program. This expansion reflects the administration’s push to give families options beyond traditional public school enrollment.
Additional budget allocations underscore the state’s educational priorities. The budget includes $1.65 billion for early childhood education, $290 million for the Safe Schools Allocation, and $15.4 million to support civics engagement programs. For higher education, the budget recommends $1.8 billion for the Florida College System and $3.9 billion for the State University System.
DeSantis has framed education investment as part of a broader fiscal strategy. The 2026-27 budget marks the fourth consecutive year of declining state spending overall, even as education funding has grown. The governor’s office highlighted that state reserves have reached nearly $18 billion and the Rainy-Day fund is maxed out at $5.0 billion, providing what officials describe as one of the nation’s strongest fiscal positions. This approach reflects the administration’s argument that conservative fiscal management and education investment are not mutually exclusive.
Sources
- Executive Office of the Governor — Governor Ron DeSantis’ official press release on signing the 2026-27 budget, education funding allocations, teacher salary investments, and fiscal discipline achievements.
- Florida Department of Education — Governor DeSantis’ remarks celebrating the 2026-27 school year start, student achievement data (60% performing on or above grade level), teacher salary history, and Florida’s education rankings.
- ClickOrlando — Confirmation of the $117.6 billion budget signed by DeSantis in June 2026, highlighting education, transportation, and law enforcement investments.
