GOV. SCOTT BOOSTS EDUCATION SPENDING
Gov. Scott raised per pupil spending in his 2015 budget to $7,176, an increase over last year. Read more in this Tampa Bay Times piece from Feb. 1, 2015.
Look at the box above to see that we have room to grow when investing in young people's futures.
Source: NCES KidsCOUNT
How does Florida compare to other states in spending per pupil (adjusted for regional cost differences)?
Florida ranked 40th in the nation in 2012. Our state spent 30% less per pupil on average than Massachusetts.
How much has funding per pupil changed since 2008?
Despite lower per pupil spending in 2012 ($690 less than 2008), Florida's basic achievement in 4th grade math and 8th grade math remained steady, with modest gains in math proficiency in both grades. Even better, basic achievement and proficiency rose in 4th grade reading and 8th grade reading during this time.