Briefing: Are Floridians Ready to Go Back to School? Not Without More Teachers…

2024 Update

Florida ranks 50th nationwide in teacher pay, with a critical shortage affecting students across the state. Despite recent efforts, teacher salaries have actually decreased by 15.7% over the past decade when adjusted for inflation.

Key findings:

• One in ten Florida courses lacks a properly certified teacher
• 15% of courses in low-performing schools are taught by out-of-field teachers
• Florida needs 9.7% more teachers by 2031, but fewer college graduates are choosing education

This Florida TaxWatch Briefing explores the root causes of Florida's teacher shortage, from low pay to high stress, and examines recent policy actions. More importantly, it offers concrete solutions to attract and retain quality educators.

Are Florida's students getting the education they deserve? Download our free briefing to understand the crisis and learn how we can secure Florida's educational future.