The Florida Legislature concluded its 2025 regular session on June 16 after extending the session to 105 days. Lawmakers addressed a range of issues, with several measures affecting the state’s education system.
One focus was maintaining Florida’s private school choice program, which supporters say was protected from proposed policy changes due to advocacy by families and schools.
Lawmakers expanded the Schools of Hope program, which was established in 2018 to address persistent underperformance in public schools by inviting high-performing charter operators to serve affected communities. The recent legislative session introduced a new model allowing these operators guaranteed access to vacant or underused facilities. Under this law, high-performing Schools of Hope can co-locate with traditional public schools or use entire buildings that are otherwise unused due to declining enrollment.
The legislature also created a supplemental funding opportunity for Schools of Hope. Additional funds will be awarded based on student outcomes at schools previously ranked in the bottom 10% statewide. This measure aims to encourage quality results while increasing educational options for students.
Other legislation sought to ease regulatory requirements for charter schools. House Bill 1105 revised the process for converting public schools into charters by requiring only a majority vote from parents instead of approval from teachers unions. It also allows municipalities to convert failing public schools into “job engine” charter schools offering career and technical education programs.
House Bill 1255 further limits local governments’ ability to impose operational or building requirements on charter schools that are not uniformly applied to all public or private schools. The bill requires prompt approval of development applications when legal criteria are met.
On literacy, lawmakers allocated resources for high-quality instructional materials for early grades and required districts to prioritize highly effective teachers in K-2 classrooms. Reading interventions must now be delivered by staff with specific credentials or endorsements in reading.
Workforce readiness initiatives were updated through expanded funding—at least $40 million—for startup and expansion costs related to career and technical programs at school districts, colleges, and charter schools. The Money-back Guarantee program was revised, doubling qualifying programs and aligning requirements with unemployment assistance guidelines.
A new law extends phone-free policies throughout the entire school day for K-8 students, with exceptions made only for those with documented needs such as Individualized Education Plans or medical conditions requiring device use during school hours. A pilot program will collect data from select high schools regarding this policy.
Efforts in the Senate aimed at restricting accountability measures and limiting choice programs did not advance after passing the Senate but failing in the House—a result attributed by advocates to coordinated work between House leadership and Governor Ron DeSantis. Proposed restrictions on the Family Empowerment Scholarship were also dropped following advocacy efforts.
Some initiatives—such as enhanced math standards and support targeting chronic absenteeism—passed the House but were not considered by the Senate; these remain priorities for future sessions.
"Despite a challenging legislative environment this session, Florida remains a national exemplar of bold, student-centered reform," according to ExcelinEd in Action and Foundation for Florida’s Future representatives. "By protecting core initiatives, unlocking new opportunities and investing strategically in education, ExcelinEd in Action and the Foundation for Florida’s Future have positioned Florida to continue its trajectory of excellence."