As the new school year approaches, Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas are traveling across the state on what has been called the “Blame Educators Tour.” The tour comes amid ongoing debates about education funding and policy in Florida.
According to statements from the Florida Education Association (FEA), educators and support staff are being unfairly blamed for issues affecting public schools. The FEA points out that these workers are not responsible for delays in salary increases but instead are affected by them. “Let us be clear: Educators are not to blame for the slow rollout of raises. They are the victims of it. Every educator in the state has one goal: To ensure that every child in Florida has access to a world class public education where they can thrive. It’s an uphill battle when public schools have to also grapple with underfunded districts, confusing state mandates, and last-minute changes from the state,” according to their statement.
Florida remains at the bottom nationally in average teacher pay, ranking 50th for two consecutive years. The FEA says veteran educators feel unheard, health care costs continue to rise, and retirees face increasing challenges. Despite this, Governor DeSantis and Commissioner Kamoutsas have focused criticism on teachers and unions.
The FEA disputes claims made by state officials regarding education funding increases. While Governor DeSantis cites $5.6 billion allocated toward teacher pay as a historic figure, records from the Florida Department of Education indicate a cumulative total closer to $1.3 billion—a difference of over $4 billion. This year’s allocation amounts to approximately $101 million statewide—less than a 1% increase from last year—resulting in about $20 more per paycheck per teacher.
“And it’s our students who suffer as SAT scores decline, and student performance on math and reading national assessments slips,” said FEA representatives.
“Our students deserve better. They deserve bold, sustained funding for our public schools. Educators are not political pawns or enemies; they are professionals. And they deserve policies that reflect that, not weak excuses or blame,” said FEA officials.
