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Education Funding
Florida students and their families are the beneficiaries of substantial funding commitments toward education from local government, the state of Florida, and the federal government. Billions of dollars are directed toward students, teachers, administrators, facilities, research and other educational needs.
Why Is This Important?
Without funding, public education cannot perform its vital function of preparing students for their adult lives. Whether students go on to college and professional careers, become farmers, join the military, commit to a career of teaching others, or pursue other avenues, none of these choices are possible without a successful public education system.
How Is Florida Doing?
Education funding has slightly fallen over the last few years. The K-12 commitment from the state is more than $17 billion, down from 2008-2009 and 2007-2008. The current funding level is 43 percent higher than 2000-2001. Stimulus funds have kept total K-12 funding near the same level as 2008-2009.
State expenditures toward community college students decreased during the past two years with slightly more than $5,000 dedicated to each full-time student. and Funding toward state university students remained nearly the same in 2008. Tuition rates continue to be among the lowest throughout the states, while university research dollars are increasing.
Federal Stimulus Funds and Education Funding
With the worldwide recession affecting states and communities throughout the country, funding levels have decreased for many programs. Education is no exception. Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, Florida’s K-12 education programs received more than $900 million, bringing state K-12 education spending near the level of $18 billion. The eventual availability of $2.2 billion for educational services will have far-reaching effects and has already saved the jobs of thousands of teachers who affect hundreds of thousands of students, enough to fill Florida’s major football stadiums.
More information about Florida's education funding can be found at:
http://www.fldoe.org/fefp
Scorecard
What Influences Education Funding?
A number of factors can affect education funding in either a positive or negative way. Economic downturns can lead to reduced funding, not only for education, but also for all other portions of a state budget. Such downturns also affect local government budgets. The opposite is true when state and local economies are receiving increased revenues due to favorable conditions.
Referendums may also lead voters to approve higher taxes aimed at increasing education funding. The state may also approve tuition increases to enhance junior college and university funds.
What Is the State's Role?
In conjunction with local school districts, the state is responsible for funding instruction and infrastructure, along with seeking other funding such as dollars for research.
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