Duval County Public Schools - Every Student. Every Day.

Welcome to the Duval County Public Schools Legislative Platform page. Here, we provide a detailed overview of our legislative priorities and the resources to stay informed about how state and federal policies impact our district, students, and educators.

As one of the 20 largest school districts in the nation, Duval County Public Schools is committed to ensuring that our students have access to high-quality education and resources. Through strategic advocacy, Duval County Public Schools collaborates with lawmakers at the state and federal levels to secure funding, advance educational equity, and implement policies that support student success.

Our Legislative Platform is shaped by:

Student and Staff Safety: Advocating for increased funding for safety initiatives and compliance with state-mandated measures.

Teacher Recruitment and Retention: Supporting competitive compensation and innovative programs to address workforce challenges.

Transportation and Infrastructure: Addressing challenges related to school bus driver shortages, facility maintenance, and future growth.

Academic Excellence and Equity: Promoting policies that ensure access to high-quality educational programs for all students.

Stay Informed and Engaged

We believe an informed community is a powerful advocate for public education. Below are resources to stay connected to the legislative process and understand how decisions in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., affect our schools.

Watch the Legislative Process

• Florida House and Senate: View live and archived sessions of the Florida Legislature on The Florida Channel.

• Federal Legislative Updates: Stay informed about Congressional sessions and debates on C-SPAN.

For questions about our legislative priorities or how to get involved in advocacy efforts, please contact:

Kortney Wesley
Director of Government Affairs
Duval County Public Schools
Office: 904-390-4262
Email Kortney

I. Flexible Certification Requirements for Teacher recruitment and retention: Flexible Certification for Teacher Recruitment and Retention: Expand F.S. 1012.993 to streamline certification for teachers of students with unique abilities, allow temporary waivers for experienced educators to re-enter the field, and expedite workforce entry for out-of-state teachers through uniform agreements. Support creating counselor apprenticeships and internship certifications to address staffing needs.

II. School Safety and Funding for New Mandates: Advocate for adequate funding to implement new state-mandated school safety initiatives. The district is seeking one million dollars to support items such as School Safety Officers, and an integrated 24/7 call center, fence line monitoring at schools, and a comprehensive surveillance solution for school districts to meet these requirements.

III. Increased Funding for Transportation Services: Advocate for enhanced funding for transportation services, seeking an increase—potentially covering the full cost—within the Transportation Categorical of the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP). This adjustment would enable existing financial resources to be redirected toward initiatives that directly promote student success.

IV. Strengthening Workforce Development through Career and Technical Education (CTE): Duval County Public Schools urges the Florida Legislature to include CAPE Digital Tool certifications in the middle school grading formula as acceleration points, fostering essential technology skills and advancing workforce readiness statewide. Additionally, the district seeks $850,000 in direct funding to launch a foundational CTE program for elementary students, providing early career exposure and hands-on experience in high-demand industries to build a skilled local talent pipeline, especially for disadvantaged students.

• Autonomy on School Start Times: Empowering school districts to determine the best start time based on community stakeholder input, addressing local factors like transportation, logistics, and student health.

• Fully fund VPK in Title I Schools and Improve CLASS training Delivery: Fully fund Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) in Title I schools to ensure equitable access to high-quality early education. Advocate for a shift to in person training for Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) training currently mandated by state statue.