Brief FEFP Budget Update

Legislature Agrees to Fully Fund AP, IB, and AICE— But K-12 Budget Lags Significantly Behind Inflation

Reports this morning confirm that, after sustained pressure from students and families across the political spectrum, the Florida Senate and House have agreed to fully fund AP, IB, and AICE courses for the upcoming year.

Instead of the long-standing add-on weight system, the legislature has introduced a new categorical grant called the Academic Acceleration Options Supplement. Lawmakers claim this new structure will ensure that no district receives less funding for accelerated coursework than it did last year. At this time, there are no details available on whether this categorical will also support Dual Enrollment or Career and Technical Education programs.

While I’m encouraged by the commitment to fund these accelerated programs, I’m concerned that moving them into a categorical grant may expose them to future cuts through budgetary maneuvering.

For now, the PreK-12 Education budget includes $596.7 million for AP, IB, and AICE—more than double the $292 million previously offered.

That, unfortunately, may be where the good news ends for Florida’s K-12 budget.

Quick Look at the Current “Bump Offer”

The latest Senate budget offer includes the same $596.7 million in funding for accelerated coursework, now officially structured as the Academic Acceleration Options Supplement. This matches the House proposal from last week. Though the structure has changed, the funding will still go to school districts.

Inflation Outpaces Budget Increases

Despite this funding win for AP/IB/AICE, the overall K-12 education budget remains woefully inadequate. Once again, Florida’s budget fails to keep pace with inflation:

• The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.3% over the last 12 months.
• The Base Student Allocation (BSA) increase is just $41.62 per FTE—a 0.78% increase.
• Total funds per FTE will rise $142.74, or 1.59%.

These increases fall far short of inflation, amounting to real funding cuts.

Worse, new spending mandates will absorb the modest BSA increase:

• The Teacher Salary Increase Allocation (TSIA), folded into the BSA, is increasing by $101.9 million—about $36 per student, or roughly $42/month per teacher.
• Districts must also cover higher Florida Retirement System (FRS) contributions, adding more than $25 per student in costs not covered by the budget.

Together, the TSIA and FRS increases will cost districts about $61 per student—more than 50% higher than the BSA increase meant to fund them.

Bottom Line
While the categorical funding for AP, IB, and AICE is a victory for advocates across the state, the overall education budget leaves Florida’s public schools underfunded once again. Without meaningful increases that meet or exceed inflation—and without relief from unfunded mandates—districts will continue to struggle and lawmakers will, once again, have failed their “paramount duty” – to make adequate provision for the education of all children residing within its borders.

There is still time to call your State Representative and Senator and push for adequate funding for our public schools.