Department of Education

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For assistance, call (850) 245-0505 or visit https://www.fldoe.org

What is the purpose of the department?

The Florida Department of Education serves as the state’s Early Learning-20 education system to increase the proficiency of all students by allowing them the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through learning opportunities and research valued by students, parents, and communities.

How is the department governed?

In accordance with article IX, section 2 of the Florida Constitution, the system of free public education in Florida is governed by the State Board of Education. The board is the chief implementing and coordinating body with a focus on high-level policy decisions for Early Learning-20 public education and consists of seven members of state residents appointed by the Governor to staggered 4-year terms, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The state board appoints the Commissioner of Education, who serves as the Executive Director of the Department of Education.

What activities are performed by the department?

The department's activities include the following.

Early Learning Programs provide accessible, affordable, and quality early learning services for the state’s children and families through three programs: School Readiness, Voluntary Prekindergarten, and Child Care Resource and Referral.
K-12 Public Schools ensure a high-quality educational experience; establishing state academic standards across all content areas by providing Academic Standards and Instructional Support and resources that support retention, and training for effective Educator Quality. Student Support Services develop and promote the implementation of a statewide system of comprehensive, multi-tiered supports for all students across Florida. Specialized support services include Gifted Education, Exceptional Student Education, Secondary Transition for students with disabilities, and assistance to English language learners.
School Choice Programs provide information, assistance, and scholarship programs for a variety of school choice options through public, private, or virtual education
Blind Services provide early-intervention education to children blind from birth through the age of five, and transition assistance for visually impaired Floridians going from school to higher education. Vocational Rehabilitation Services are mandated in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and s. 413.011, Florida Statutes, and include job training and placement, training in mobility and orientation, independent living skills, guidance and counseling, and low vision aids and adaptive technology.
District School Boards provide operational control and supervision of all free public schools in their respective districts while the District School Superintendent administers and manages schools and supervises instruction. School principals or heads of schools are responsible for the administration schools, for the supervision of instruction therein, and for providing leadership in the development or revision and implementation of a school improvement plan. Contact information on all public schools in the state is maintained by the department and can be searched by district and city.
Student Safety policies and programs provide standards, training, compliance monitoring, and oversight in Student Transportation, Safe School Assessment, and Campus Safety.
Career and Adult Education is a collaborative partnership between public and private sectors that delivers workforce education through a network of public school districts, the district technical colleges and centers, and Florida state colleges.
Florida’s School Improvement and Accountability System implements the federal Every Student Succeeds Act by publishing strategic plan measures data in the form of state, district, and school report cards on the Know Your Schools Portal. Florida also conducts and shares statewide, alternative, and English learner assessment of student academic achievement data to assess student progress and strategic planning through the Florida Statewide Assessment Portal.
State Board of Education coordinates public education in Florida and enforces systemwide education goals and policies to increase the proficiency of all students. The Office of Academically Successful and Resilient Districts provides support and guidance to school districts on policies for the state system of public education that include parent's rights, academic standards, curriculum and supplemental materials, school safety, teacher professional development and supports, educational choice, and workforce education. In addition, the board identifies student achievement goals and measures in a strategic plan based on Early Learning-20 data. The public, as well as district and school leaders, can access strategic improvement resources and school improvement plans through the Florida Continuous Improvement Management System.
Federal Educational Programs provide resources for improved academic achievement outcomes for students who are disadvantaged, migrant, neglected, delinquent, at-risk, homeless, or in rural and low-income schools.

How are these activities funded?

The funding information listed below is provided by Transparency Florida. Please contact the department for more information on its funding. Additional information about department funding and activities is available on the State of Florida Fiscal Portal.

Funding sources for public education include general revenue and trust funds; local revenue, almost entirely derived from property taxes; lottery funds; and federal funds that typically supplement state and local funds. The primary mechanism for funding Florida school districts is the Florida Education Finance Program, which recognizes variances in (1) local property tax base; (2) education program costs; (3) costs of living; and (4) costs for equivalent educational programs due to sparsity and dispersion of the student population.

Fiscal Year: 2025-26

	Fund	Salary Rate/ Position	General Revenue	Trust Funds
SALARY RATE		60,495,933
POSITIONS		914.00
SALARIES AND BENEFITS
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			31,142,266
	FROM ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			8,780,610
	FROM EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION AND SERVICE TRUST FUND			5,731,754
	FROM DIVISION OF UNIVERSITIES FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			3,664,814
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			16,931,367
	FROM INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT TRUST FUND			4,040,342
	FROM STUDENT LOAN OPERATING TRUST FUND			3,305,663
	FROM NURSING STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS TRUST FUND			95,323
	FROM OPERATING TRUST FUND			363,097
	FROM TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION TRUST FUND			498,693
	FROM WORKING CAPITAL TRUST FUND			7,210,058
OTHER PERSONAL SERVICES
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			310,969
	FROM ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			199,054
	FROM EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION AND SERVICE TRUST FUND			103,040
	FROM DIVISION OF UNIVERSITIES FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			44,160
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			473,937
	FROM INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT TRUST FUND			235,298
	FROM STUDENT LOAN OPERATING TRUST FUND			26,507
	FROM OPERATING TRUST FUND			5,311
	FROM WORKING CAPITAL TRUST FUND			61,251
EXPENSES
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			3,457,465
	FROM ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			1,406,375
	FROM EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION AND SERVICE TRUST FUND			1,090,901
	FROM EDUCATIONAL MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY TRUST FUND			133,426
	FROM DIVISION OF UNIVERSITIES FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			898,664
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			1,703,663
	FROM GRANTS AND DONATIONS TRUST FUND			48,433
	FROM INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT TRUST FUND			514,776
	FROM STUDENT LOAN OPERATING TRUST FUND			800,556
	FROM NURSING STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS TRUST FUND			26,050
	FROM OPERATING TRUST FUND			295,667
	FROM TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION TRUST FUND			135,350
	FROM WORKING CAPITAL TRUST FUND			606,077
OPERATING CAPITAL OUTLAY
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			45,970
	FROM ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			144,428
	FROM EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION AND SERVICE TRUST FUND			7,440
	FROM DIVISION OF UNIVERSITIES FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			15,000
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			241,756
	FROM INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT TRUST FUND			16,375
	FROM STUDENT LOAN OPERATING TRUST FUND			55,960
	FROM NURSING STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS TRUST FUND			6,000
	FROM OPERATING TRUST FUND			5,000
	FROM TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION TRUST FUND			3,150
	FROM WORKING CAPITAL TRUST FUND			47,921
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			79,311,120
	FROM ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			2,315,367
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			40,153,877
	FROM TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION TRUST FUND			10,421,655
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
TRANSFER TO DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			480,627
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
CONTRACTED SERVICES
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			37,338,599
	FROM ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			739,054
	FROM CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT TRUST FUND			300,000
	FROM EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION AND SERVICE TRUST FUND			1,402,736
	FROM DIVISION OF UNIVERSITIES FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			488,200
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			2,376,770
	FROM GRANTS AND DONATIONS TRUST FUND			50,000
	FROM INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT TRUST FUND			405,405
	FROM STUDENT LOAN OPERATING TRUST FUND			14,009,208
	FROM NURSING STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS TRUST FUND			19,893
	FROM OPERATING TRUST FUND			374,193
	FROM TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION TRUST FUND			42,250
	FROM WORKING CAPITAL TRUST FUND			1,043,604
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
FLORIDA ACCOUNTING INFORMATION RESOURCE (FLAIR) SYSTEM REPLACEMENT
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			850,000
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			6,500,000
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
ENTERPRISE CYBERSECURITY RESILIENCY
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			30,175
	FROM ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			85,882
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
	FROM DIVISION OF UNIVERSITIES FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			200,000
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
RISK MANAGEMENT INSURANCE
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			148,653
	FROM ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			62,554
	FROM EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION AND SERVICE TRUST FUND			36,109
	FROM DIVISION OF UNIVERSITIES FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			11,502
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			103,426
	FROM INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT TRUST FUND			17,146
	FROM STUDENT LOAN OPERATING TRUST FUND			24,304
	FROM NURSING STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS TRUST FUND			474
	FROM OPERATING TRUST FUND			1,422
	FROM TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION TRUST FUND			1,735
	FROM WORKING CAPITAL TRUST FUND			41,941
SPECIAL CATEGORIES
TRANSFER TO DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES - HUMAN RESOURCES SERVICES PURCHASED PER STATEWIDE CONTRACT
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			116,366
	FROM ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			22,303
	FROM EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION AND SERVICE TRUST FUND			22,506
	FROM DIVISION OF UNIVERSITIES FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			12,119
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			76,413
	FROM INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT TRUST FUND			9,513
	FROM STUDENT LOAN OPERATING TRUST FUND			45,870
	FROM NURSING STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS TRUST FUND			315
	FROM OPERATING TRUST FUND			2,978
	FROM TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION TRUST FUND			1,856
	FROM WORKING CAPITAL TRUST FUND			27,477
DATA PROCESSING SERVICES
EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SERVICES
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			6,053,246
	FROM ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			1,790,165
	FROM EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION AND SERVICE TRUST FUND			1,364,190
	FROM DIVISION OF UNIVERSITIES FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			354,602
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			3,945,700
	FROM INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENT TRUST FUND			363,220
	FROM STUDENT LOAN OPERATING TRUST FUND			1,288,715
	FROM NURSING STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS TRUST FUND			31,147
	FROM OPERATING TRUST FUND			100,026
	FROM TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION TRUST FUND			73,950
	FROM WORKING CAPITAL TRUST FUND			1,313,571
DATA PROCESSING SERVICES
NORTHWEST REGIONAL DATA CENTER (NWRDC)
FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND			3,708,712
	FROM ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			109,548
	FROM EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION AND SERVICE TRUST FUND			96,817
	FROM DIVISION OF UNIVERSITIES FACILITY CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE TRUST FUND			12,571
	FROM FEDERAL GRANTS TRUST FUND			442,878
	FROM STUDENT LOAN OPERATING TRUST FUND			822,208
	FROM TEACHER CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION TRUST FUND			42,045
	FROM WORKING CAPITAL TRUST FUND			5,889,471
TOTAL			169,494,168	152,964,128

Source: www.transparencyflorida.gov

Where can I find information on the department's performance?

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

Additional Resources

OPPAGA Products
A complete list of related OPPAGA reports and presentations is available on our website.

Other Reports
Department of Education, PK-12 Public School Data Publications and Reports
Division of Early Learning Annual Report, Florida Department of Education, 2022-2023
Florida's Private Schools, Florida Department of Education, 2022-2023
Office of Inspector General Annual Report, Florida Department of Education, 2022-2023
Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services Strategic Plan, Florida Department of Education, 2020-2025
A complete list of Florida Auditor General reports is available on its website.

Websites of Interest
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Farm to School
Florida State University, CPALMS (Collaborate Plan Align Learn Motivate Share)
PBS, LearningMedia
Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Education Media
CDC, Healthy Schools
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National School Lunch Program
U.S. Department of Education, Engage Every Student Initiative
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics
U.S. Department of Education, Raise the BarU.S. Department of Education, What Works Clearinghouse

Applicable Statutes

Article IX of the Florida Constitution and Title XLVIII, Florida Statutes

Department Contact Information

Florida Department of Education Contact Website
Florida Department of Education
325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-6533
(850) 245-0505
Website