Legislature Boosts Per-Child Funding for Schools

Prior to the conclusion of the Special Session held June 7-9, 2017, the House and Senate reached an agreement on K-12 education spending in the state's annual budget. Governor Rick Scott had vetoed this portion of the budget on June 2. At that time, the state's proposed budget only allowed for a $24 per-child increase in basic funding for K-12 education in public schools. The governor called for the special session to include a discussion of increased funds in the amount of $100 per child under this basic funding known as Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). The legislature agreed with the governor's request. This means that FEFP will increase from the $7,196 set for the 2016-2017 school year to $7,296 in the 2017-2018 school year. The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, which is tied to the FEFP, will also rise.