TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Months after lawmakers proposed slashing bonuses for acceleration programs in half, full funding to pay for advanced placement programs in Florida public schools is expected to stay in place in the final version of the budget.
The proposed cuts included reduced funding for things like advanced placement, International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment, and career and technical education.
Duval County Public Schools leaders say during the 2023-2024 school year, DCPS received more than $15.5 million in bonuses for acceleration programs offered. Officials had said that the proposed funding cuts would amount to a 50% cut for the county -- around $8 million.
During that same school year, the St. Johns County School District received more than $8.5 million for academic accelerated programs and nearly $5 million for technical education courses.
Students at DCPS schools like Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies campaigned for months against the cuts, encouraging students, staff and parents to email legislators about how the cuts could affect them and their future.
Now, it seems several lawmakers are looking to backtrack on their stance.
Lawmakers haven’t made a final decision yet, but here’s a look at the potential changes:
- The Senate is now offering to create a new “categorical” program for the bonuses (Categorical funds are earmarked for specific programs)
- That program would include teacher bonuses, school bonuses and other district incentives
- 80% of the money would go directly to schools; 20% is discretionary
- The House has to make an offer, but says it is considering doing something similar
“I’m overjoyed that funding for AP and IB programs has been fully restored. A student, on behalf of many others, came to me asking for help, and all I did was give them a platform,” said Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Carlucci, who backed the Duval County students protesting the funding cuts. “They showed up, spoke out, and stood tall—even when some tried to block them. Their courage and determination carried this across the finish line. This is their victory, and it’s a shining example of what happens when young people believe their voices matter—and use them.”
Lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Tuesday for conference-committee negotiations after a month-long impasse over the budget. Those meetings included the Pre K-12 Budget Conference, where Danny Burgess, the Senate K-12 Appropriations Chair, and Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, the House K-12 Budget Chair, spoke about their change of heart after hearing from students, parents and teachers from across the state.
“Districts should not experience any change in funding, as they may have experienced,” Burgess said.
Persons-Mulicka said the “categorical” funding offers more transparency.
“We know what that pot of money looks like. We are looking to make sure that we allocate that in a way that equates to what would be allocated using the add-on weight credit,” Persons-Mulicka said.
Districts currently get bonuses for every student who scores well on assessments for advanced programs, but lawmakers were trying to base the funding on predictions, instead of the actual number of students who met the criteria.
House and Senate leaders intend to send a proposed budget to Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 16. The fiscal year ends June 30. The state needs to have a new budget in place by July 1.
