Where and how well our school districts spend our education dollars can have a profound impact on student academic achievement and success. Historically, education makes up about one-fourth of Florida’s total budget. Florida TaxWatch believes that shifting education spending away from administrative and other expenses and toward classroom/instructional expenses is beneficial.
FOR STUDENTS, LEARNING IS A CUMULATIVE PROCESS WHEREBY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS ARE DEVELOPED OVER SUCCESSIVE YEARS. As such, any sudden and large disruption to in-person instruction can have a cascading effect on student learning and life outcomes beyond formal education. Due to COVID-19, the unprecedented disruption in learning, especially for K-12 students, raises concerns about what unfinished learning may mean for academic achievement, mental health, and social development in the future. So what happens now?
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch (FTW) today released its Education Leadership Roundtable Summary Report, which explores ways to improve the overall quality of Pre-K – 12 education by examining the “best practices” of some of the state’s most effective public-school principals. The summary report includes key strategies for success discussed during the Friday, May 24 FTW Education Roundtable in Orlando, along with supporting research and key takeaways.
Moderated by our Vice President for Research Bob Nave, the panel discussed obstacles to effective school leadership; ways to attract and retain high-quality teachers; professional development for principals; how to get the most from teachers; and principal autonomy.
In April 2018, TaxWatch convened a 90-minute education roundtable in Orlando to discuss ways to improve the overall quality of pre-K–12 education by improving the leadership qualities of our public school principals. Joining the nine current PLA-winning principals were three former PLA-winning principals, the Chair of the State Board of Education, one current and one former member of the Florida House of Representatives, and a number of business and community leaders from across the state.
This annual publication takes a look at how Florida stacks up to the nation in terms of educational enrollment, outcomes, and investment.
The Florida TaxWatch Center for Educational Performance and Accountability (CEPA) stresses the need for reform in education through the legislative process.
This Florida TaxWatch publication, Taxpayer’s Guide to the Funding of Florida Public Education (K-12), is available for download via the document link attached to this
This Florida TaxWatch publication, Florida’s Financial commitment to K-12 Education How Much Money is Enough, is available for download via the document link attached to
OR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 CONTACT: Christina Johnson Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its report, Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Florida Goodwill Association –
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