Well-Resourced Schools Have…

  • Professionally trained educators
  • Well-maintained facilities with open spaces that foster community, sharing, and collaboration
  • First-rate classroom curriculum and technology
  • Healthy classroom sizes
  • Additional academic support, college prep and career readiness programs

  • Libraries filled with books

  • Full-time librarians
  • Vibrant arts programs
  • A wide variety of extracurricular activities
  • Active sports teams

Public schools are the backbone of a community.

From the Panhandle to the Keys, we show up for all Florida students.

Public Schools are A Public Good

Well-resourced public schools make our communities stronger. Time and time again, studies show that thriving schools help to create vibrant neighborhoods—everyone benefits when our public schools are supported.

Yet, when adjusted for inflation, state and local combined funds for Florida’s preschool and K-12 education decreased $811 per pupil from 2008 to 2023. A lack of funding to our public schools makes it harder to meet the needs of our students, and it hurts our communities.

Public schools provide space for our students to grow, explore their interests, and develop skills that help them both within and outside of a  school environment. 

Our focus

Reclaiming power in our communities

In an era of hyper-polarization, Floridians know that education issues transcend superficial party politics—the power of community is on our side.

Power Building

Leverage strategic partnerships to ensure a multi-faceted approach to take on challenges facing public education.

Research & Policy Advocacy

Utilize member research and reporting to bring forward evidence-based policy advocacy.

Capacity Building

Combine individual resources and talents to meet the moment.

Policy Priorities

We cannot let the powers that be use public schools like chips in their own political games—the decisions that impact our communities must be made by the neighbors that live here and the state should do what’s necessary to ensure our public schools can properly serve their communities.

Decisions about our local schools shouldn’t be made at the state level. We know our neighborhoods best—that means ensuring school board leaders have an intimate knowledge of the communities they represent and supporting policies that enrich our schools and communities.

A well-resourced school provides students with a wider range of opportunities, including advanced placement classes, art programs, and extracurricular activities that prepare them to be leaders in their communities.

Florida is 50th in the nation for teacher pay despite having faced multiple years of record-setting cost of living increases and state revenue.

Recent Advocacy Efforts

Mid-Session Briefing

4/10/25

Tracking Bills & Budget

This 90 minute webinar covered information on this year’s budget proposals and legislation that looks likely to pass.

Session Expectations

3/6/25

Focus on Education

This webinar dug into the key issues facing Florida students and educators heading into the 2025 legislative session.

The State of Vouchers in 2025

PEER Report

Public Dollars for Private Schools

The partner organizations of FCTPS publicly support the research and launch of this PEER report that highlights voucher impacts in FL.

Get Connected

The Florida Coalition for Thriving Public Schools will be accepting new members soon.

Please fill out our contact form to learn more.