Florida's commitment to maintaining high standards and accountability in education has positioned it as a national leader. Over the last twenty years, the state has demonstrated that setting high expectations for students and schools leads to improved performance.
A report by the American Enterprise Institute highlights Florida's achievements, ranking it near the top in student achievement nationwide. The report praises Florida as "the best place to be a low-income public school student in the country." It attributes this success to three key strategies: prioritizing early education with an emphasis on reading proficiency by third grade, fostering a diverse school choice environment, and implementing assessment systems that track student progress.
Despite these accomplishments, recent data such as SAT results indicate that challenges remain. Florida policymakers are urged to maintain their course and avoid following other states in lowering educational standards.
Bruce Rauner, FFF Trustee and former Illinois Governor, emphasized Florida's educational legacy: "It’s a legacy Florida policymakers should be proud of."