Legislature must focus on solutions for students
Florida’s public schools are in the midst of a staffing crisis.
Teachers and other educators are leaving the profession in record numbers, and it’s no secret why — low pay and a lack of trust and respect. In our state the situation is getting worse.
From January 2018 to January 2023 the number of teacher vacancies listed on school district websites went from 1,492 to 5,294. Counting teachers and support staff, vacancies this January totaled nearly 10,000.
As would be expected, this is negatively impacting our students. We are seeing an increase in academic challenges and behavioral issues. When there aren’t enough teachers and staff, the educational and emotional needs of our students are not going to get the attention they need and deserve.
We have to fix this and build a better state for public education. That’s why the Florida Education Association is calling on lawmakers to join us in addressing this crisis as the state Legislature convenes March 7.
This legislative session can be a real win for Florida’s students and our state’s future, but we must work together, implementing solutions that will attract and retain the professionals our students need to thrive.
And we must focus on what is right for Florida’s public schools, universities and colleges, not what sounds good on a national campaign trail.
The governor has immense influence over the legislative process and has made clear that he will use his power to bully anyone who goes against him. Just ask Disney, the College Board, elected officials and now professors, teachers and students in Florida.
Ron DeSantis has touted Florida as No. 1 in education freedom, yet his proposed ideas for our schools and higher education stomp on those freedoms.
His agenda to censor what books kids read or what courses students take is counter to his self-proclaimed “parents’ rights” agenda. His vilification of teachers and overregulation of our ability to do what is best for students is counter to his “teacher bill of rights.”
His plans to limit college students’ educational choices — especially around diversity, equity and inclusion — is the opposite of his self-proclaimed plan to rid Florida of “indoctrination.”
The governor’s divisive actions speak louder than his misleading words. We can’t get distracted by this campaign posturing. We have work to do, and we stand ready to partner with lawmakers serious about what our students, educators, schools, colleges and universities need.
We need lawmakers to remove the archaic and punitive laws that interfere with school districts’ ability to properly compensate teachers and staff. We need lawmakers to increase funding for public schools. And we need lawmakers to reject proposals designed to limit our freedom to teach and our students’ freedom to learn.
We are optimistic about this legislative session and stand with lawmakers ready to address the pay inequities in our schools. We stand with lawmakers ready to repeal the restrictions on the academic freedoms of students and teachers. We stand with lawmakers ready to make Florida a destination state for educators to work and kids to learn.
If we are going to see Florida’s school flourish, we must implement proven reforms that will address the teacher and staffing shortage. We must defend the freedom to learn and to teach. And we must protect those willing to stand up to the governor in order to stand up for what is right for Florida’s children.
As we enter this legislative session, we are inviting all lawmakers to stand with those on education’s front line and fight for the resources and freedoms our students need and deserve.
They are counting on us.
Andrew Spar is president of the Florida Education Association, representing more than 150,000 preK-12 teachers and education staff professionals, higher education faculty and graduate assistants, students preparing to become teachers, and retired education employees.