EXCLUSIVE: Florida Schools See Decline In Teacher Vacancies

Florida schools saw an eight percent decline in teacher vacancies heading into the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year compared to the previous year, The Daily Signal has learned.

Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. will announce Tuesday that Florida schools will have 4,776 total teacher vacancies as students head into classrooms this year. That figure compares to 5,208 vacancies that the state had at the start of the last school year — an 8% decline in teacher vacancies, according to the state’s Department of Education.

“It has been a top priority of the Governor, the Florida Legislature and the Department of Education to recruit high-quality teachers to fill our classrooms,” Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. said in a statement. “It is clear from the nearly 10% decline in teacher vacancies reported today that their hard work has paid off.”

Florida’s current vacancy numbers leave the state with an average of 1.28 vacancies per school, making the state’s vacancy rate less than the United States national average of 2 vacancies per school, the Florida Department of Education noted.

The news comes amidst media coverage, like Newsweek’s, suggesting that “Florida’s Teacher Shortage Is Getting Worse.” Citing the state teacher’s union, the Florida Education Association (FEA), the outlet claimed that Florida has almost 7,000 positions vacant heading into the upcoming school year.