Parents, educators, and students gathered to urge the Florida Legislature to take action in support of public schools. The event, organized by the Florida Education Association (FEA), included participants from across the state who discussed concerns about current education policies and called for legislative changes.
Andrew Spar, President of the FEA, stated: “As educators, parents, and students across the state know, Florida is not fulfilling the constitutional requirement it has. But Legislators have a chance to do so. This session, lawmakers have several bills before them that will improve learning conditions for Florida’s public-school students. We want lawmakers to act on behalf of our public-school students, uphold their constitutional right to a free, high-quality public education, and help educators do the jobs they love and want to do.”
Participants highlighted several bills aimed at addressing issues such as wage compression among teachers, salary flexibility, multiyear contracts for educators, 10-year teaching certificates, advanced degrees incentives, and voucher accountability. While some of these bills have progressed in the Senate or passed it entirely, they have not yet been scheduled for consideration in the House.
The FEA and its supporters expressed concern over policies implemented during the past two decades that they say have restricted educators’ roles and shifted significant funding toward private school vouchers without sufficient oversight. Additionally, charter school corporations are allowed to share facilities with public schools using taxpayer funds—a practice critics argue diverts resources from traditional public schools.
Damaris Allen, Executive Director of Families for Strong Public Schools said: “Parents have made it abundantly clear—especially when it comes to charter schools co-locating in our public schools—that we are against harmful policies like Schools of Hope. We are concerned about the future of our students, we are concerned they will lose opportunities, and we are concerned about their safety. Every single step of the way, parents have been ignored. In a state that claims that we are all about parental rights, that is an absolute slap in the face.”
Speakers at the event shared experiences from various communities affected by these policies. One educator described how co-location with charter schools led to declining enrollment in a Miami school: “In Miami, I had the opportunity to visit a school where after a co-located charter opened dozens of students disappeared from the roles almost overnight. The school lost staff positions; lost programs; and children who remained felt like guests in their own school buildings… So today I’m simply calling on our legislators to repeal the co-location provision…If you want hope you need to invest in the schools that serve every child that walks through the door.”
Other speakers addressed issues such as teacher retention due to lack of multiyear contracts: “Every year we lose educators because without multiyear contracts there’s nothing to stop educators from leaving… Students need a stable learning environment… Teachers needs [sic] to focus on teaching not whether they will have a job next year.”
Concerns were also raised regarding pay and working conditions for educational staff professionals: “When education staff professionals are overworked underpaid and leaving public education altogether students lose stability consistency and access to essential services… Strong public schools require stable experienced and supported staff not burnout turnover and vacancy signs…”
A representative from Hardee County emphasized how local economies depend on strong schools: “In my rural community Hardee County… If we want strong schools strong families and a strong rural economy we need lawmakers to act.”
Budget priorities were another focus: “Budgets are a reflection of priorities and our budget in Florida has reflected those of billionaires and corporations for far too long at expense of children’s education…”
Higher education was also discussed: “Public higher education in Florida is under attack… Students are facing serious learning challenges because their instructors are being targeted by lawmakers… This climate of fear will result in students not learning full content due to censorship…”
The FEA continues tracking relevant legislation on its website at FEAweb.org/session.
The FEA represents 120,000 members including PreK-12 teachers; higher education faculty; educational staff professionals; college students preparing for teaching careers; and retired employees.
