2025 Legislative Session
The Florida 2025 Legislative Session will convene on March 4, 2025.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has called for a special session to address immigration, condominium regulation, agricultural relief in response to natural disasters, replenishing the My Safe Florida Home program, and the citizens’ initiative petition process.
JPEF will follow and report on education bills during the regular session.
The Duval County School Board has adopted its legislative agenda, which includes more funding for transportation, strengthening workforce development through career and technical education, and more flexibility in requirements for teacher certification.
Research on DCPS Agenda Items
What does research say about the Duval County Public School legislative agenda? Follow the links below to learn more about the research behind the policies.
Flexible Certification Requirements
Flexible Certification for Teacher Recruitment and Retention: Expand F.S. 1012.993 to streamline certification for teachers of students with unique abilities, allow temporary waivers for experienced educators to re-enter the field, and expedite workforce entry for out-of-state teachers through uniform agreements. Support creating counselor apprenticeships and internship certifications to address staffing needs.
School Safety and Funding for New Mandates
Advocate for adequate funding to implement new state-mandated school safety initiatives. The district is seeking one million dollars to support items such as School Safety Officers, and an integrated 24/7 call center, fence line monitoring at schools, and a comprehensive surveillance solution for school districts to meet these requirements.
Increased Funding for Transportation Services
Advocate for enhanced funding for transportation services, seeking an increase—potentially covering the full cost—within the Transportation Categorical of the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). This adjustment would enable existing financial resources to be redirected toward initiatives that directly promote student success.
Strengthen Workforce Development Through Career and Technical Education
Duval County Public Schools urges the Florida Legislature to include CAPE Digital Tool certifications in the middle school grading formula as acceleration points, fostering essential technology skills and advancing workforce readiness statewide. Additionally, the district seeks $850,000 in direct funding to launch a foundational CTE program for elementary students, providing early career exposure and hands-on experience in high-demand industries to build a skilled local talent pipeline, especially for disadvantaged students.
Supporting FSBA's Priorities for Advancing Education
Supporting FSBA’s Priorities for advancing education with the following:
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Autonomy on School Start Times: Empowering school districts to determine the best start time based on community stakeholder input, addressing local factors like transportation, logistics, and student health.
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Fully fund VPK in Title I Schools and Improve CLASS training Delivery: Fully fund Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) in Title I schools to ensure equitable access to high-quality early education. Advocate for a shift to in person training for Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) training currently mandated by state statute.
A Look Ahead to the Legislative Session
The Consortium of Florida Education Funds hosted a webinar to provide a preview of the 2025 Florida Legislative Session.
