State Budget Proposals Spark Concerns Over Funding for Advanced High School Programs
TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers are nearing the end of budget negotiations, with major decisions looming over the future of advanced education programs in public high schools. At issue is the level of funding for academic acceleration programs such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), Dual Enrollment, and industry certification courses.
The Florida Senate has proposed a plan that would cut funding for these advanced high school programs by roughly 30%. In contrast, the Florida House has proposed the creation of a dedicated funding category that would fully restore state support for these programs.
Advocates warn that reduced funding could force school districts to scale back or eliminate offerings that help students earn college credit or professional credentials while still in high school.
Beyond acceleration programs, critics say the proposed state budget fails to meaningfully invest in public education. The base student allocation — the amount of money provided per student — would see only a modest increase under current proposals. Additionally, there is no significant increase in funds earmarked for teacher pay, despite worsening struggles with teacher retention and recruitment.
While funding for public schools remains relatively flat, nearly $5 billion in state funds is expected to be directed to private school voucher programs, continuing a years-long trend of increasing taxpayer dollars delivered to the private sector. Less than 14% of Florida students attend private schools.
An interactive map released by the Florida Policy Institute shows how proposed cuts to advanced coursework funding would affect individual school districts. Hillsborough County schools would be among the worst hit, with nearly 5,000 high school students losing funding for their advanced programs.
Education stakeholders across the state are closely watching the final negotiations, as the Legislature prepares to vote on the state budget in the coming days.
