Florida ranks last in new national report on support of K-12 schools

[Zorro]

Among other national education research institutions, the Network for Public Education ranked Florida last for its lack of commitment and support for K-12 public schools.

The network, a nonprofit advocacy group that promotes and researches policies supporting traditional public schools, has evaluated and held states accountable for how public education is managed and upheld.

With scores up to 100, each state was evaluated based on privatization, school finance, and student and teacher supports.

"The grades in this report are not merely academic assessments influenced by demographics or changing test standards. They are a measure of how seriously each statehouse takes its obligation to the children who attend public schools within its borders," says the report, released through a press release.

Florida earned an F, with 14 out of 100 possible points earned.

"The states most aggressively redirecting public funds toward private alternatives were also the states most neglectful of their public schools, their teachers, and their students. Privatization and disinvestment, it turns out, go hand in hand," the report adds.

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/education/2026/06/23/florida-ranks-last-in-new-public-school-report/90575137007/

[pfitz59]

1. Duh

Books bans. Teacher firings. Idiot curriculum demands.

[cachukis]

2. Started some time ago, but they managed to

bamboozle the public with "great" numbers.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

4. The whole COVID "great job Florida is doing" MSM meme was nothing more than...

them reclassifying COVID deaths as other things in older patients. A complete scam. Their lunatic "surgeon general" is a first class, mythologist clown. I'm hoping saner minds regain the state at some point. I left there in 2019.

[Aviation Pro]

3. Stop buying lottery tickets

….

[Freddie]

5. Makes me sick

My grandsons will be attending Florida public schools in a few years. I trust my son and DIL to stay on top of things and provide supplemental learning opportunities if needed. Their neighborhood school has a good reputation. So far.

[Timeflyer]

6. This was FL MAGA's plan all along, to destroy FL PUBLIC education by bankrupting local school districts.

Accomplished with 2023's FL HB 1 bill, a universal voucher program that provides taxpayer funded scholarships averaging $8,000 annually per pupil, regardless of family income. No oversight or accountability built into the program, so students suffer while greedy corporate charter and private (religious) schools profit.

[cachukis]

7. A big problem in Florida that is under recognized

is the point of view of many parents. I suspect it is true elsewhere.
The school system is not a panacea. No Child Left Behind undermined reality. Twenty percent of students will succeed, regardless. Sixty percent will fluctuate dependent on peer pressure, learning methods and classroom environment.
Twenty percent will struggle for most of their lives.
Florida's solution is choice schooling.
Many parents excuse their student's inability to flourish on the existing school. They select a multitude of opportunities that many students are denied.
I would suggest, that parental expectation outside their own responsibility is passing the buck.
This buck passing has been recognized by the legislature as a means to an end. A way to absolve the responsibilities of so many in our society.
Big problem that is beyond this page.

[Buddyzbuddy]

8. I imagine Universities and Colleges haven't faired so well either.

I also imagine the applicant pool has suffered dramatically as well. Likely Texas is experiencing the same type of deficits.

[SWBTATTReg]

9. Why should FL educate its kids? After all, the state has 100s of thousands moving to FL every year, of all

occupations, so they have a ready supply of all occupations coming to the state every year.

Thing is, I'm seeing some leaving FL due to high costs, high rentals now vs. years ago. So perhaps the trend is broken finally.