As a former public-school teacher in Miami-Dade and now a state legislator, I’ve seen firsthand what works — and what doesn’t — in our public education system.

Let’s be clear: Florida’s public schools are not failing due to local mismanagement; they are struggling because of chronic underfunding and years of state-level policy decisions that have diverted resources away from our classrooms.

In a recent op-ed, Rep. Fabián Basabe suggests that our public schools should be grateful for meager and insufficient increases in state education funding — somehow implying that a lack of local accountability is to blame for underfunded and underperforming schools. We must all reject this damaging narrative, which creates division instead of delivering solutions. Our children cannot afford such distractions from the real work of fully funding our schools, raising teacher pay to competitive levels, reducing class sizes, and ensuring that all children — regardless of ZIP code — receive a high-quality education.

Florida has long ranked at or near the bottom nationally in per-pupil spending, and no amount of spin changes that clear fact. Our students and teachers are doing the best they can under enormous constraints. The blame lies not with them, but with a system designed to underdeliver.

We don’t need political theatrics from those unwilling to fight for Florida’s students and educators. We need real investments in our state’s future. That starts with restoring equitable funding to our public schools, strengthening the teacher pipeline, protecting programs that challenge and inspire students, and working with — not against — local school districts.

The recent changes in how accelerated courses, such as AP, IB, AICE, and Dual Enrollment, are funded will harm our students, particularly in low-income and underserved communities. These aren’t “add-ons;” these programs are lifelines — providing access to college-level coursework, scholarship opportunities, and academic enrichment that levels the playing field for students who might otherwise be left behind.

These changes, pushed by the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature, are not about transparency or accountability. They are about weakening public education while propping up alternatives like private school vouchers — now able to be used with no income eligibility cap — and charter schools, many of which operate with little to no oversight and no requirement to meet the same standards as traditional public schools.

I support transparency. I support oversight. And I believe we cannot scapegoat our public schools while ignoring the role of the state in underfunding, undermining, and undercutting them. Teachers are leaving the profession in droves. Class sizes are growing. Arts and enrichment programs are being slashed. Still, somehow, public school districts are asked to do more with less.

I taught in Miami-Dade classrooms for nearly a decade. I saw the brilliance of our students, the dedication of our educators, and the magic that happens when communities are given the resources they need to thrive. I also saw schools struggling to provide basic materials. I saw students with special needs waiting too long for services. I saw overburdened teachers stretched thin trying to meet unrealistic and unfunded mandates from Tallahassee.

It’s easy to write an op-ed pointing fingers. It’s harder to roll up your sleeves and fix what’s broken.

I ran for office to do the hard work. I’m here to advocate for the students and families who depend on public schools — not tear those schools down with rhetoric and misinformation. Let me be clear, public schools are ALSO parental choice, one of which over 70% of parents in Florida exercise. We cannot prioritize one over the other by depleting the resources of one to fund the other.

Let’s stop using education as a political pawn and start treating it as the public good it is. Our children deserve nothing less.

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Ashley Gantt serves District 109 in the Florida House of Representatives.  Gantt is an attorney and a former public-school teacher who taught in Miami-Dade County Public Schools for seven years before dedicating her career to public service.

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Florida TaxWatch officials say Monday is “Florida Taxpayer Independence Day,” representing how much Sunshine State residents really pay in taxes and how long they would have to pay to be totally tax free.

The organization says if the average Florida taxpayer used all their income this year to pay their annual tax bill, it took until Monday, April 21, to fully pay their share. That accounts for local, state and federal taxes.

“Based on the relative size of all taxes paid in Florida to the state’s total personal income, it took taxpayers an average of 110 days to pay their taxes this year, which fell on the same day in 2024,” a TaxWatch news release said.

Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic Calabro said the symbolic study shows the average Floridian is paying far too much in taxes.

“While Floridians, on average, saw their income grow enough to meet the tax bills, rising prices and insurance premiums have squeezed paychecks, and many are finding it more difficult to pay taxes,” Calabro said.

“April 21 may be the symbolic day Floridians have earned enough for their tax obligations, but paying taxes is a year-round effort, with local governments receiving property tax payments in the fall, federal taxes taken out of every paycheck, and the collection of state sales tax can be an everyday affair.”

TaxWatch officials say they’re optimistic that the Legislature will implement state tax cuts this year. But it’s not clear what impact that will have.

The Senate is considering a proposal that would implement a $900 million sales tax exemption for clothes and shoes. And the House is considering a similar measure that would reduce state sales taxes from 6% to 5.25%. Property taxes are also on the table, as Gov. Ron DeSantis has advocated reducing those taxes with a rebate.

Florida TaxWatch Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jeff Kottkamp said the watchdog group is holding lawmakers’ feet to the fire.

“In observing Florida Taxpayer Independence Day, the actions of the 2025 Legislature may also have a big impact on when future Taxpayer Independence Days arrive, with the current conversation in reducing property taxes, and the possibility of even eliminating or replacing it,” Kottkamp said.

“While this action would require a constitutional amendment, Florida TaxWatch welcomes the conversation and is thankful for the prudent decision making and sound fiscal policies enacted by our state’s leaders.”

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