Tallahassee, FL — June 18, 2025 — After a 105-day legislative session, lawmakers concluded their work by approving a $115.1 billion state budget. The good news is that the budget includes a 1.59 percent increase, and weighted and dual enrollment/AP funding remained in place.
“Once again, the Florida House of Representatives, Senate, and Governor are showing actions, not words, that School Choice is at the top of their priorities list. When parents are empowered, families win —and Florida’s education system becomes stronger for everyone,” said Dr. Tony Arza, Chief Strategy Officer, Florida Charter School Alliance.
Following negotiations between the House and Senate, the final FY 2025–2026 budget reflects a notable increase in per-student funding. While initial proposals projected an average increase of $98 per full-time equivalent (FTE) student, the Legislature ultimately approved a $143 increase—bringing the total per-student allocation to $9,130.41. This marks a 1.59% increase over the previous year’s FEFP funding level of $8,987.67. We fought for every dollar. This outcome demonstrates the Legislature’s continued commitment to work with the Florida Charter School Alliance to support Florida’s students and classrooms with meaningful year-over-year funding growth.
The legislature’s continued investment helps ensure that the great work that charter schools have done over the past 29 years continues and that every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive. The next step lies with Governor Ron DeSantis, who—once he formally receives the budget—will have 15 days to either sign it, issue a full veto, or exercise his line-item veto authority.
Florida SB 2500 Education Budget Summary -Fiscal Year 2025-2026:
TOTAL EDUCATION INVESTMENT
- Grand Total: $31,580,559,614
- General Revenue Fund: $22,855,808,664
- Trust Funds: $8,724,750,950
SECTION 1: EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT
Total: $2,512,673,968
• Medical Education Support:
o USF Medical Center: $12,740,542
o UF Health Center: $7,898,617
o FSU Medical School: $824,574
o Educational and General Activities: $650,769,081
SECTION 2: EDUCATION (ALL OTHER FUNDS)
Total: $29,067,885,646
1. EARLY LEARNING SERVICES
Total Budget: $1,615,471,818
o General Revenue: $605,064,046
o Trust Funds: $1,010,407,772
o Staff: 97 positions
Key Programs:
- School Readiness Program: $1,121,817,832 Individual coalition allocations
- Gold Seal Quality Care Program: $70,000,000
- Special needs differential: $2,500,000
- Fraud restitution allocation: $950,000
Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK): $434,199,644 Base allocation: $3,029 (school year), $2,586 (summer)
- Individual coalition allocations
- T.E.A.C.H. Program: $20,000,000
- VPK Assessment Implementation: $4,942,600
2. K-12 EDUCATION (FEFP)
Total FEFP: $15,246,150,848
Core Funding Formula :
- Base Student Allocation: $5,372.60
- Total Required Local Effort: $10,906,834,048
- Maximum Discretionary Millage: 0.748 mills
Program Cost Factors:
- K-3 Basic: 1.108
- 4-8 Basic: 1.000
- 9-12 Basic: 0.972
- ESE Support Level 4: 3.609
- ESE Support Level 5: 6.064
- English Language Learners: 1.165
- Career Education (9-12): 1.081
Program Cost Factors:
- K-3 Basic: 1.108
- 4-8 Basic: 1.000
- 9-12 Basic: 0.972
- ESE Support Level 4: 3.609
- ESE Support Level 5: 6.064
- English Language Learners: 1.165
- Career Education (9-12): 1.081
Special Allocations:
- Teacher Salary Increases: Maintained allocation: $1,254,976,789 (6.67% of base)
- New increase allocation: $101,602,318 (0.54% of base)
- Safe Schools: $290,000,000
- Mental Health Assistance: $180,000,000
- Academic Acceleration Options: $596,771,896
- Student Transportation: $565,994,313
- ESE Guaranteed Allocation: $2,113.61 per weighted FTE
- Teacher Classroom Supply: $300 per eligible teacher
3. CLASS SIZE REDUCTION
Total: $2,629,201,003
Allocation Factors:
- PreK-3: $958.42 per student
- Grades 4-8: $915.09 per student
- Grades 9-12: $917.30 per student
4. NON-FEFP K-12 PROGRAMS
Total: $500,809,642
Major Programs:
- School Recognition Program: $135,000,000
- Guardian Program (School Safety): $6,500,000
- School Hardening Grants: $20,000,000
- Autism Programs: $12,000,000
- Florida School for Deaf and Blind: $74,659,956
- Mentoring/Student Assistance: $13,582,988
- Strategic Statewide Initiatives: $51,488,952
School Safety & Security:
- Guardian Program: $6,500,000
- School Hardening Grants: $20,000,000
- Safe Schools Assessment Tool: $845,000
- Threat Management Coordinators: $5,000,000
Notable Initiatives:
- Jewish Day School Security: $15,000,000 (operational) + $5,000,000 (capital)
- New World School of Arts: $500,000
- SEED School of Miami: $12,189,942
- Take Stock in Children: $6,125,000
5. WORKFORCE EDUCATION
Total: $590,828,307
Major Components:
- District Workforce Education: $467,346,826
- Performance Incentives: $8,500,000
- Capitalization Incentive Grants: $40,000,000
- Pathways to Career Opportunities: $20,000,000
- Nursing Education (PIPELINE): $20,000,000
Special Programs:
- GATE Program Support: $5,000,000
- Individual district allocations
6. FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM
Total: $1,553,724,140
Core Funding:
- Program Fund: $1,426,362,645
- Individual college allocations
- Performance Incentives: $20,000,000
- Student Success Incentives: $30,000,000 2+2 Student Success: $17,000,000
- Work Florida Success: $13,000,000
Special Programs:
- Nursing Education (PIPELINE): $40,000,000
- Linking Industry to Nursing (LINE): $24,000,000
- Library Network: $11,024,746
- Commission on Community Service: $1,483,749
7. STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
Total: $4,112,691,290
Individual University Allocations:
- University of Florida: $671,669,087
- Florida State University: $612,102,790
- University of South Florida: $399,087,525
- Florida International University: $360,939,752
- University of Central Florida: $338,842,730
- Florida Atlantic University: $186,990,481
- University of North Florida: $137,035,439
- Florida A&M University: $130,091,081
- Florida Gulf Coast University: $121,351,714
- University of West Florida: $103,550,951
- New College of Florida: $62,257,302
- Florida Polytechnic University: $44,906,527
Performance and Incentive Funding :
Performance-Based Incentives: $645,000,000 State investment: $350,000,000 (nonrecurring)
Institutional redistribution: $295,000,000 (recurring)
Programs of Strategic Emphasis: $18,485,299
Medical Education:
- USF Medical Center: $126,916,839
- UF Health Center: $134,796,162
- FSU Medical School: $35,359,083
- UCF Medical School: $31,814,672
- FIU Medical School: $33,153,594
- FAU Medical School: $22,197,039
- Nursing Education (PIPELINE): $40,000,000
Special Centers and Programs:
- Lastinger Center for Learning: $50,180,571
- IFAS (Agricultural Science): $189,966,502
- Moffitt Cancer Center: $23,576,930
- Institute for Human & Machine Cognition: $9,339,184
- Florida Center for Cybersecurity: $35,000,000
- Hamilton Center for Classical Education: $10,000,000
- Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom: $15,000,000
8. STUDENT FINANCIAL AID
Total: $328,245,988
Major Programs:
- Florida Student Assistance Grant: $300,618,861
- Benacquisto Scholarship: $38,101,648
- Dual Enrollment Scholarships: $18,050,000
- First Generation Matching Grants: $10,617,326
- GATE Scholarships: $7,000,000
- Florida First Responder Scholarships: $10,000,000
- Open Door Grant Program: $35,000,000
9. VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
Total: $265,573,963
- Staff: 878 positions
- Client Services: $146,582,621
- Independent Living Services: $7,069,793
10. BLIND SERVICES
Total: $79,838,535
- Staff: 279.75 positions
- Client Services: $39,496,717
- Community Rehabilitation: $4,948,260
11. PRIVATE COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
Total: $193,399,967
Major Components:
- EASE Grant Program: $135,903,100 (37,910 students at $3,500 each)
- Historically Black Colleges: $31,921,685
- Private College Grants: $12,926,849
- Medical Training/Simulation: $6,000,000
CAPITAL OUTLAY INVESTMENTS
Total Fixed Capital Outlay: $1,679,559,272
Major University Projects:
- FAMU/FSU Engineering Building: $40,000,000
- FIU Health Sciences Facility: $53,691,594
- UF Dental Science Building: $47,500,000
- FSU Veterans Legacy Complex: $20,000,000
- Florida Poly Student Achievement Center: $12,000,001
College System Projects: $113,915,327
- Individual college projects listed
- STEM facility upgrades
- Workforce training centers
K-12 Capital Projects:
- Special Facility Construction: $144,669,602
- Maintenance & Repairs: $248,623,329
- Public School Projects: $11,545,127
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION OPERATIONS
Total: $322,458,296
- Staff: 914 positions
- Assessment & Evaluation: $132,202,019
- Contracted Services: $58,251,312
- Cloud Computing Services: $6,500,000
- Technology Services: $16,579,529
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Total: $12,159,720
- Staff: 66 positions
- Oversight of State University System
Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) is a member-driven organization focused on charter schools’ legislative policy and environments in Florida. We advocate for students and charter schools throughout the state, positively impacting over 406,800 students enrolled in one of the state’s 734 charter schools. Our members run the gamut of choice educational programs – from urban to rural campuses, programs specializing in exceptional students or drop-off prevention to unique classical curriculum, and college-prep programs in high-need areas. Yet all our member schools have a common thread – a steadfast commitment to raising the bar on public education and providing a quality education option to the children and communities they serve.