Teacher vacancies in Florida have dropped by 17.7% for the 2025-2026 school year compared to the previous year, according to data released by the Florida Department of Education. Over the past two years, this represents a total decrease of nearly 30% in teacher vacancies across the state. The department emphasized that these figures are based on direct reports from school districts, as opposed to third-party sources.
“Florida continues to attract the best teaching talent because we have raised teacher pay, empowered our teachers in the classroom and created new pathways for Floridians to enter the teaching profession,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “While the teachers unions use the same, tired tactics in an attempt to smear Florida’s education system, we are focused on providing our teachers with the tools they need to succeed, and the data show our approach is working. I am proud of the work Florida has done to dramatically reduce the number of vacancies across the state thanks to the policies Governor Ron DeSantis has championed.”
Since Governor Ron DeSantis assumed office, more than $5.9 billion has been allocated toward increasing pay for teachers and instructional staff. The state has also introduced additional routes for qualified individuals who want to become teachers. For example, over 80 people are currently participating in on-the-job training through Florida’s Teacher Apprenticeship Program while pursuing certification; almost 500 applications have been submitted for this program. In addition, more than 100 military veterans have started teaching under a temporary certificate through a special pathway designed for veterans, with close to 700 applications received.
