Parents, educators, and students gathered to urge the Florida Legislature to take steps to strengthen public schools. The event was organized by the Florida Education Association (FEA), which represents a broad group of education professionals across the state.
Andrew Spar, President of the FEA, said, “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.”
The FEA pointed out that several legislative proposals addressing issues such as wage compression for veteran educators, salary flexibility, multiyear contracts, longer teaching certificates, recognition of advanced degrees, and voucher accountability are progressing in the Senate but have not been scheduled for discussion in the House.
Participants highlighted concerns about policies over recent decades that they say have placed restrictions on educators and shifted funding toward private school vouchers and charter corporations. These changes have led to co-location of charter schools within public school buildings at taxpayer expense.
Damaris Allen, Executive Director of Families for Strong Public Schools, stated: “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.”
A list of bills tracked by FEA can be found at FEAweb.org/session.
Speakers also described how charter school co-location has affected local communities. One educator shared: “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 the children who remained felt like guests in their own school buildings. Educators see the tensions in the hallway, the confusion for families, and the message that it sends that some kids get hope while others get what’s left. That is not how you build strong public education in the state of Florida. 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.”
Another educator emphasized job stability: “Every year we lose educators because without multiyear contracts there’s nothing to stop educators from leaving the profession for more stable work. On paper it looks like a staffing issue. In real life it’s a student issue. Students need a stable learning environment. They need teachers who stay long enough to build relationships and grow programs. Teachers needs to focus on teaching not whether they will have a job next year.”
Concerns were also raised about working conditions for education staff professionals: “When education staff professionals are overworked underpaid and leaving public education altogether students lose stability consistency and access to essential services. Schools struggle to maintain programs manage resources effectively and provide support students need to succeed…We are asking lawmakers to strengthen not abandon public education…”
A rural perspective was provided by another participant: “In my rural community Hardee County…the school district isn’t just a place where kids learn…It’s largest employer heartbeat town one institution touches every family…If we want strong schools strong families strong rural economy we need lawmakers act.”
Budget priorities were questioned as well: “Budgets are reflection priorities budget state Florida reflected priorities billionaires corporations far too long at expense education children this state…This isn’t just about teaching profession it’s about kids.”
On higher education challenges another speaker said: “Public higher education in Florida is under attack…Students facing serious learning challenges because instructors being targeted by lawmakers state-appointed bureaucrats…This climate fear will result students not learning full content some courses due censorship…”
The FEA describes itself as representing 120,000 members including PreK-12 teachers higher education faculty educational staff professionals college students preparing become teachers retired employees.
