Gov. Ron DeSantis met with community members and state leadership on Thursday to review recent state performance metrics and funding allocations ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year.
According to state progress monitoring assessments, over 60% of Florida students are currently performing at or above grade level in both English language arts and mathematics, marking a state record.
Speaking at the event, DeSantis tied the academic benchmarks to state policy decisions surrounding classroom standards, workforce programs, and parental involvement.
“We’ve led the way to champion policies that expand opportunities for students, strengthen workforce education, support great teachers, and ensure every child has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success in life,” DeSantis said. “As students across the state get ready to go back to school, we wish them a successful year ahead.”
Commissioner of Education Henry Mack also spoke, emphasizing the broader goals of the state’s educational framework.
“Education changes the trajectory of a child’s life. Every classroom, every lesson, every parent, and every educator help shape opportunities that extend far beyond the next grade level or graduation,” Mack said. He added that state officials remain committed to strengthening Florida’s educational system and preparing students for future careers.
Financial allocations for educators were a primary focus of the announcement. The state has directed over $7 billion toward the Teacher Salary Increase Allocation since 2019. Over that same timeframe, average starting teacher pay in Florida rose from $40,000 to $50,200.
For the 2026-2027 budget cycle, the state allocated $1.56 billion specifically for teacher compensation increases. That figure includes $200 million earmarked specifically for experienced teachers with at least a decade of service in Florida public schools.
State officials also highlighted several external organization rankings:
- U.S. News & World Report: Ranked Florida #1 in overall Higher Education since the category’s creation in 2017.
- The Heritage Foundation: Ranked the state #1 in Education Freedom for four consecutive years.
- Center for Education Reform: Ranked Florida #1 on its Parent Power Index for four consecutive years and top overall on its charter school legislation evaluation for three consecutive years.
- ALEC: Ranked the state #1 on its Index of State Education Freedom, giving Florida its only A+ rating this year.
- Lightcast: Named Florida #1 on its Talent Attraction Scorecard for three straight years (2023–2025).
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