As the new school year begins, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas are touring the state on what has been described as a “Blame Educators Tour.” The tour has drawn criticism from the Florida Education Association (FEA), which says that educators are being unfairly blamed for problems in public schools.
According to the FEA, Governor DeSantis is focusing on blaming teachers and other school staff for issues stemming from state policies rather than addressing challenges faced by students, families, and educators. The organization asserts that school employees—including teachers, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, lunch staff, and maintenance workers—are not responsible for delays in pay raises but are instead affected by them.
“Let us be clear: Educators are not to blame for the slow rollout of raises. They are the victims of it. Every educator in the state has one goal: To ensure that every child in Florida has access to a world class public education where they can thrive. It’s an uphill battle when public schools have to also grapple with underfunded districts, confusing state mandates, and last-minute changes from the state,” said representatives of the FEA.
The FEA points out that Florida ranks last among states in average teacher pay for two consecutive years. The group also notes rising healthcare costs and financial difficulties faced by retirees. According to their statement: “Veteran educators are not being heard, healthcare costs are rising, and retirees are struggling, yet the Governor and Commissioner blame teachers and unions instead of owning the consequences of underfunding and poor policy.”
Recent data show declines in student SAT scores as well as lower performance on national math and reading assessments among Florida students.
Governor DeSantis has described recent funding increases as “historic,” stating that $5.6 billion has gone toward teacher pay. However, according to records from the Florida Department of Education cited by FEA, actual cumulative funding since 2020 is closer to $1.3 billion—a difference of about $4 billion. This year’s allocation is $101 million statewide or less than a 1% increase over last year; this amounts to about $20 more per paycheck per teacher.
The FEA argues this increase does not match claims of historic investment: “That works out to roughly $20 more per paycheck per teacher, which is a far cry from historic. That $20 sends a clear message to every single educator in the state: when the Governor blames teachers, staff, and their unions for their own low pay, he really means that educators should be happy with scraps and a system that is making it harder for them to have a say in their own professions.”
The organization concludes by calling for greater investment in public schools: “Our students deserve better. They deserve bold, sustained funding for our public schools. Educators are not political pawns or enemies; they are professionals. And they deserve policies that reflect that, not weak excuses or blame.”
