Florida News
Published Aug. 6, 2026, 2:49 p.m. ET | Updated Aug. 6, 2026
LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis highlighted Florida’s education performance and school safety initiatives Thursday as he kicked off the 2026-27 school year at a Lee County elementary school, touting improved student achievement and expanded school choice.
Speaking at Tortuga Preserve Elementary School alongside Education Commissioner Henry Mack and Lee County Schools Superintendent Denise Carlin, DeSantis pointed to Florida’s national education rankings, saying the state has ranked first in education freedom, public higher education and workforce education.
He credited school choice policies with giving parents more options and encouraging districts to compete for students.
“Parents have options, and you need to provide options,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis also highlighted recent statewide academic results, saying 76% of Florida schools earned an A or B during the 2025-26 school year, a 5% increase from the previous year. He said Florida posted a record 92.2% high school graduation rate and, for the first time, more than 60% of students are performing at or above grade level in both English language arts and mathematics.
WATCH: Gov. Ron DeSantis highlighted new statewide education gains ahead of the start of the school year.@GovRonDeSantis: "For the first time ever, more than 60% of Florida students are performing at or above grade level in both English language arts and mathematics." pic.twitter.com/mr6du3i8US
The governor defended Florida’s progress-monitoring testing system, which replaced a single end-of-year exam with periodic assessments throughout the school year, saying it allows teachers and parents to address learning gaps earlier.
He also said the state has invested an additional $7 billion in teacher salaries since he took office.
DeSantis also promoted Florida’s civics education initiatives, including the Civics Seal of Excellence program, which provides teachers with additional training and a $3,000 bonus for completing the program.
Additionally, DeSantis emphasized school safety, saying Florida has invested more than $3 billion in campus security since the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
“We’ve done more over this period of time to promote school safety and security than has ever been done in the history of the state of Florida,” he said.
NOW: Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida has done more to improve school safety than at any point in state history@GovRonDeSantis: "We've done more over this period of time to promote school safety and security than has ever been done in the history of the state of Florida." pic.twitter.com/75uF6a9TqC
The investments include funding for school safety officers on every public school campus, threat assessment teams, the Fortify Florida reporting system and the School Guardian Program, according to the governor.
Carlin highlighted Lee County’s recent academic gains, including its highest district grade point total in a decade and a goal of becoming an A-rated school district by 2028. Students in Lee County return to classrooms next week.
Florida’s Voice is a Florida-focused digital news outlet covering state politics, public policy, and cultural issues across the Sunshine State. As a voice for Floridians, Florida’s Voice delivers timely reporting, commentary, and analysis on the stories shaping Florida’s civic and political landscape.
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DeSantis touts education gains, school safety ahead of new school year – Florida’s Voice
