Statement on Florida Senate’s 2019-20 Proposed Education Budget

Foundation for Florida’s Future Executive Director Patricia Levesque on the Florida Senate’s 2019-2020 Proposed Education Budget 

Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future, released the following statement on today’s announcement by the Florida Senate on the 2019-2020 proposed education budget. 

“The Senate’s budget proposal clearly shows that the state’s leaders value student-centered policies that work to improve the lives of Florida’s children, families and educators. 

“We commend Senate President Bill Galvano, Senator Kelli Stargel and Senator Manny Diaz, Jr. for prioritizing policies that empower families to be able to choose the best educational fit for their children, strengthen pathways for students to be ready for college and career, support teacher development and reward them for results and improve the quality of public schools.” 

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education proposed funding the following education priorities: 

• $350 increase in per-student funding for public schools, moving the per-student amount generated for each public school student to $7,779. 
• $30 million increase to ensure students with disabilities on the Gardiner Scholarship wait list are able to receive a customized education. 
• $70 million for digital classroom allocation. 
• $10.2 million for Community Schools Grants, which helps public schools provide wraparound services and other services for low-income students and their families.
• $14.2 million in additional funding to public school districts affected by Hurricane Michael.
• $68 million increase in funding to the Safe Schools Allocation to provide public schools (both district-run and charter) with funds to support one safe school officer per school.