LEHIGH ACRES — More than 60% of Florida students are now performing on or above grade level in both English language arts and mathematics for the first time, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced at an event marking the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
The milestone, paired with a $1.56 billion teacher salary allocation in the current budget, anchored DeSantis’ case that Florida’s education system continues to outpace the rest of the country. Since 2023, student performance on the state’s progress monitoring assessments has increased in both English language arts and mathematics.
“We’ve led the way to champion policies that expand opportunities for students, strengthen workforce education, support great teachers, and ensure every child has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success in life,” said DeSantis. “As students across the state get ready to go back to school, we wish them a successful year ahead. We appreciate the parents, educators, and school leaders whose dedication to students is leaving them better prepared than ever, and we will keep working to ensure that the best days for education in Florida are still ahead.”
The governor highlighted the state’s investment in teacher compensation, noting Florida has directed more than $7 billion through the Teacher Salary Increase Allocation since 2019. Average starting teacher salary has risen from $40,000 to $50,200 over that period. The 2026-27 budget includes $200 million specifically dedicated to raising salaries for experienced teachers with at least 10 years of service in Florida public schools.
Commissioner of Education Henry Mack framed the gains in broader terms. “Education changes the trajectory of a child’s life. Every classroom, every lesson, every parent, and every educator help shape opportunities that extend far beyond the next grade level or graduation,” Mack said. “As we begin this school year, we remain committed to building on our successes and strengthening Florida’s education system as a national model of excellence-challenging students to reach their highest potential, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to succeed in their future careers, and preparing them to make meaningful contributions to Florida and the United States as productive citizens.”
DeSantis cited a string of national rankings to bolster his argument: No. 1 in Education Freedom by The Heritage Foundation for four consecutive years, No. 1 on the Parent Power Index by the Center for Education Reform for four straight years, No. 1 on the ALEC Index of State Education Freedom — the only state to receive an A+ rating — and No. 1 in higher education by U.S. News & World Report since the inception of those rankings in 2017. Florida also holds the top spot on Lightcast’s 2025 Talent Attraction Scorecard for three consecutive years, ranks No. 1 in workforce education, and No. 1 on The Center for Education Reform Scorecard for three consecutive years evaluating charter school legislation.
The state has ranked No. 1 in Education for two of the last three years. Students across Florida return to classrooms in the coming days for the 2026-2027 school year.