Florida TaxWatch released an analysis of the Sunshine state’s teacher shortage: Are Floridians Ready to Go Back to School? Not Without More Teachers.
In Florida’s FY2023-24 state budget, education was one of the largest consumers of taxpayer dollars; however, a teacher shortage prevents these funds from being effectively utilized.
“When it comes to student performance, teachers are estimated to have two to three times the effect of any other school-related factor, including leadership, which is why it is disconcerting that school administrators are scrambling to find enough qualified teachers for the upcoming 2024-25 school year,” Florida TaxWatch President and CEO, Dominic M. Calabro said. “While the 2023-24 school year experienced a 13 percent decline in reported vacancies for the first time in four years; reported vacancies are still more than double compared to the 2016-17 school year. Florida policymakers should consider further increasing teacher salaries and support programs that support teacher mentorship, bolster support staffing, and provide financial assistance for mental health resources.”
According tot he group, there are several considerations for Florida’s teacher shortage, including:
- The teaching profession is declining in popularity. From 2016-2026, about 270,000 teachers are anticipated to leave their occupation each year, and the number and percentage of new college graduates with a bachelor’s degree in education have decreased. This is particularly acute among women, with more than one-third (36 percent) of all bachelor’s degrees conferred to women were in Education in 1970-71 compared to only six percent in 2019-2020.
- The declining popularity is in part due to the nature of the job. Teaching is stressful, with a recent survey suggesting 59 percent of teachers incur frequent job-related stress and 60 percent are experiencing burnout.
- The pay for teachers is low. Compared to other professions requiring a bachelor’s degree, Florida teachers receive a relatively low salary, an average of $53,098 in 2023; 32 percent less than the national median pay received by those with a bachelor’s degree ($77,636).
- The cost of living in Florida is high. The shortage of affordable housing, skyrocketing costs of insurance and health care, increased property taxes; coupled with inflation make Florida an expensive state in which to live.
- Education is becoming more politically charged. As policymakers wrest more control over curriculum from teachers and allow parents a greater toehold in shaping their children’s education, many teachers consider leaving the profession, or state.
State policymakers, however, have made efforts to address the Florida teacher shortage and related issues.
In 2020, the state of Florida established a dedicated, recurring funding source, the Teacher Salary Increase Allocation, which in FY 2024-25 was funded to the tune of $1.25 billion.
In 2022, the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program launched, allowing educators and other professions to be eligible for loans to assist first-time, income-qualified homebuyers with down payments and closing costs.
In 2023, there were various pathways created that allow individuals to become licensed teachers through alternative means, including military veterans, those who currently have a bachelor’s degree, and through the Teacher Apprenticeship Program.
The demand for teachers is expected to continue to grow.
Although Florida’s current administration has made historic funding increases for teacher salaries, investing more than $4 billion since 2019, the funding increases failed to bring the average teacher salary to a level competitive with other states, or other professions that require a bachelor’s degree.
For more information and to access the full Florida teacher shortage report, visit 2024 UPDATE: Are Floridians Ready to Go Back to School? Not Without More Teachers.
