Florida State Board Meetings, School Grades, FAST, Choice & FDOE Help
Florida Board of Education searches can lead to very different services: the Florida State Board of Education, Florida Department of Education, a county school district, school grades, FAST testing, graduation requirements, scholarships, teacher certification or student records.
This independent guide separates those systems and gives families, educators and residents practical next steps for current 2026 State Board information and common Florida education tasks.
Florida State Board, FDOE and local school districts are different
| Entity | Best for | Usually not your first stop for |
|---|---|---|
| Florida State Board of Education | Statewide education rules, Board meetings, standards, accountability policy and other State Board action. | One child’s bus, attendance, transcript or lunch account. |
| Florida Department of Education | State assessment, accountability, certification, school choice, ESE, statewide data and FDOE records. | Most individual K–12 student records and daily school operations. |
| County school district | Student enrollment, calendars, transportation, school assignment, transcripts, local Board meetings and district choice. | State educator certification or State Board agendas. |
| Individual school | Attendance, teachers, testing-day details, campus schedules, pickup and classroom concerns. | Statewide rules or licensing. |
| Scholarship Funding Organization | Family scholarship applications, eligibility and funding for programs the SFO administers. | Public-school enrollment or Board public comment. |
Fast rule: if the issue names one student and involves attendance, a bus, transcript, school assignment, meal account or classroom matter, start locally unless a specific state appeal or complaint route applies.
Florida State Board and FDOE at a glance
State agency
Florida Department of Education
FDOE
325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399
State Board
7 members currently listed
Chair
Ryan Petty
Vice Chair
MaryLynn Magar
Commissioner status
2026 leadership transition — see explanation below
Next meeting
September 16, 2026
School Grades
2025–26 results are now published
Next Florida State Board of Education meetings
Current official listing: the next scheduled State Board meeting is September 16, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. in Winter Haven.
| Date | Time | Current official location | Before attending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 16, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. | Polk State College, Winter Haven Campus, Fine Arts Building, 11th St NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881 | Recheck the official meeting page and agenda shortly before travel. |
| Oct. 14, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. | Martin County School Board Office, 1939 SE Federal Hwy, Stuart, FL 34994 | Verify that the location and agenda have not changed. |
Do not assume Tallahassee. Florida State Board meetings are held in different communities and venues around the state, and scheduled dates are subject to change.
Agenda, materials, archive or minutes?
| Record | Use it for | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Agenda | See what the Board is scheduled to consider. | A listed item is not proof that it was ultimately approved. |
| Meeting materials | Read proposed rules, presentations and supporting documents. | A recommendation is not automatically final Board action. |
| Meeting archive | Watch or review actual discussion. | Use the full discussion rather than an isolated clip. |
| Minutes | Confirm the formal meeting record after approval. | Minutes may not be posted immediately. |
How to comment to the Florida State Board
The State Board provides two primary public-participation routes: attend a meeting and comment on agenda items under current Board guidelines, or submit comment in advance through FDOE’s Rules system.
Attend in person
Review the current agenda and meeting instructions before traveling.
Submit advance comment
Use FDOE’s official Rules portal for the applicable rule or agenda-related comment opportunity.
No fixed speaking-time claim is made here. Check the current meeting guidelines rather than assuming that a time limit used at another meeting will apply.
Florida State Board of Education members
Ryan Petty
Chair
MaryLynn Magar
Vice Chair
Grazie P. Christie
Board member
Layla Collins
Board member
Daniel P. Foganholi, Sr.
Board member
Erika Fritz-Ochs
Board member
Luis Fuste
Board member
Why different Florida Commissioner names appear online
Florida changed education leadership during summer 2026, so search results and official systems can currently show different names depending on when a page was published or updated.
| Person | 2026 context | How to read the result |
|---|---|---|
| Anastasios Kamoutsas | Commissioner earlier in 2026 | Older 2026 FDOE releases and Board agendas correctly name him for those dates. |
| Dr. Paul O. Burns | Unanimously appointed Interim Commissioner June 30, 2026 | Some current FDOE systems still identify Burns as Interim Commissioner. |
| Dr. Henry Mack | Unanimously appointed Florida’s next Commissioner July 22, 2026 | FDOE subsequently described Mack as Commissioner-Designate during the transition. |
Best practice: before sending formal correspondence or publishing a single “current Commissioner” name, verify the live FDOE Commissioner page because official systems have been updating through the transition.
Recent 2026 Board agendas show the range of statewide decisions
The State Board is not primarily a calendar office. Recent agendas illustrate the types of statewide policy issues that reach the Board.
Commissioner appointment
The July 22 agenda included consideration of Florida’s next Commissioner of Education.
State education rules
Board agendas regularly contain amendments and new Florida Administrative Code education rules.
School accountability
Accountability, turnaround and district oversight can reach the State Board.
School safety
Threat-management and school-safety rules have appeared in 2026 Board business.
Educator rules
Teacher preparation, certification and educator-related requirements can require Board action.
Career education
CTE standards, industry credentials and workforce education appear in statewide policy work.
When researching an action, distinguish an agenda proposal from final Board action. Return to the meeting archive, minutes or final rule before describing the outcome as final.
Florida does not use one statewide student calendar
State Board schedule
Statewide governance meetings and Board events.
Student calendar
First day, breaks, teacher planning days, hurricane makeup days, graduation and last day are local.
Identify the county district
Florida public school districts generally correspond to counties.
Open the district’s official calendar
Look specifically for the 2026–27 school year.
Check the individual school
Bell schedules, ceremonies, athletics and campus events can be school-specific.
Recheck after severe weather
Hurricanes and emergency closures can change local makeup-day plans.
Florida School Grades 2026 are now published
A or B
2,614 schools earned an A or B for 2025–26.
Improved or stayed A
60% either maintained an A or increased their grade.
D or F schools
Down from 70 in the prior year.
Downloadable files
Current school grades, district grades and calculation guides are published.
Use more than the letter grade
Achievement
Look at subject performance and proficiency.
Learning gains
Review whether students are demonstrating growth.
Attendance
Attendance context can affect the overall school picture.
Graduation
High-school graduation outcomes add important context.
Educator data
Use educator qualification and out-of-field information where available.
Programs
Compare programs and services with the student’s needs, not just statewide rank.
A school grade is not a complete school review. Compare the current school report, programs, learning gains, attendance, student services and local context.
FAST and B.E.S.T.: what parents should know for 2026–27
| Assessment | Grades / area | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| FAST ELA Reading | VPK through Grade 10 program structure; public 2026 Grade 3–10 result files are posted. | Use statewide/district data plus the student’s individual report. |
| FAST Mathematics | VPK through Grade 8 program structure; public Grade 3–8 result files are posted. | Review growth across progress-monitoring periods. |
| B.E.S.T. Writing | Grades 4–10 | Use current district/school result files and school score reports. |
| Algebra 1 / Geometry EOC | Course-based | Check applicable course and graduation requirements. |
ELA PM3
61% of Grades 3–10 students were reported on or above grade level at end-of-year 2026.
Math PM3
62% of Grades 3–8 students were reported on or above grade level at end-of-year 2026.
Florida has already posted the 2026–27 Statewide Assessment Schedule. A statewide testing window is not necessarily your child’s exact testing day.
Need your child’s exact date, accommodation or makeup session? Contact the school. Those details are administered locally.
Florida has five main standard diploma pathways
24-credit program
The traditional standard-diploma pathway.
ACCEL
18-credit Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning option.
CTE Pathway
Career and Technical Education standard-diploma pathway.
IB
International Baccalaureate curriculum pathway.
AICE
Advanced International Certificate of Education curriculum pathway.
Students with disabilities
Florida rules provide two additional standard-diploma options for eligible students with disabilities.
Do not use a generic credit checklist for a transfer student. The student’s cohort, completed courses, assessments and district transcript review all matter.
Confirm the diploma pathway
Know whether the student is using the traditional, ACCEL, CTE, IB, AICE or applicable disability route.
Review the transcript
Compare completed credits with the student’s applicable pathway.
Review assessment requirements
Confirm any applicable graduation-related assessments.
Confirm locally
The school counselor has the student’s actual transcript and remaining-requirement information.
Florida Controlled Open Enrollment: choosing another public school
Controlled Open Enrollment allows families to seek a public school outside the normal assignment when that school has available capacity and the applicable district or charter plan permits enrollment.
Choose the receiving school
Identify the exact district and school you want.
Check current capacity
District and charter school capacity determinations must be current and posted online.
Read that district’s plan
Application dates, process and available schools are local.
Understand transportation
A parent’s school choice can carry transportation responsibilities.
Required preference categories include
FDOE does not approve each individual transfer. Apply through the receiving district or charter school’s current Controlled Open Enrollment process.
FES, FTC, PEP and Hope are different programs
| Program | Main purpose | Family starting point |
|---|---|---|
| FES Educational Options | Education choices for eligible K–12 students, including participating private-school options. | Approved Scholarship Funding Organization. |
| FES Unique Abilities | ESA-based education options for eligible students with disabilities. | Approved SFO administering the program. |
| Florida Tax Credit | Scholarship education options funded/administered through approved SFOs. | Approved SFO. |
| Personalized Education Program | FTC-linked ESA option using a Student Learning Plan. | Participating SFO. |
| Hope Scholarship | Options after a qualifying reported incident involving a public-school student. | School incident-report process, then Step Up For Students. |
Approved SFOs listed for 2026–27
A.A.A. Scholarship Foundation – FL
Step Up For Students
Sunshine State Kids
Not every SFO necessarily administers every scholarship. FDOE specifically tells families to contact the organization to determine which programs it administers.
Important Hope Scholarship distinction
FDOE currently states that only Step Up For Students administers the Hope Scholarship. Do not send a Hope application to another SFO simply because it appears on the general approved-SFO list.
Report the qualifying incident
Begin with the student’s public school.
Obtain the signed Hope form
The principal or designee provides the applicable notification/incident documentation.
Choose the education route
Consider another public school or the eligible private-school scholarship route.
Contact Step Up
Current FDOE guidance identifies Step Up For Students as the administrator.
Send a Florida home-education Letter of Intent locally — not to FDOE
Critical routing rule: FDOE says Letters of Intent must be sent to the local county home-education office, not the state office.
| You need | Start with |
|---|---|
| Letter of Intent | Local county home-education office |
| Annual evaluation / student record | Local home-education office |
| General statewide home-education guidance | FDOE Virtual & Home Education |
| FES / PEP scholarship question | Applicable Scholarship Funding Organization |
Temporary vs Professional Florida educator certificates
Temporary Certificate
Valid for five school years and nonrenewable. It provides time to complete Professional Certificate requirements while teaching full time.
Professional Certificate
Valid for five school years, renewable and Florida’s highest educator certificate.
A Temporary Certificate is issued after qualifying employment in a Florida school and required fingerprint clearance.
Basic certification workflow
Choose the correct application
Initial, upgrade, add-a-subject, renewal and reinstatement use different transactions.
Apply through FDOE
Use the secure certification application service.
Review the Official Statement
Use the eligibility statement to identify any remaining requirements.
Complete employment/fingerprint steps
The process depends partly on whether you are employed by a public or approved nonpublic school.
Track certification status
Use FDOE’s certification tools rather than starting duplicate applications.
Common certification application fees
| Action | Current fee |
|---|---|
| Initial Florida Certificate | $75 per subject |
| Temporary → Professional upgrade | $75 |
| Add subject / endorsement | $75 per subject |
| Remove subject | $20 per subject |
| Renew valid Professional Certificate | $75 |
| Qualifying late renewal | $105 total |
| Reinstate expired Professional Certificate | $75 per subject |
All certification application fees are nonrefundable. Fingerprinting, retention and provider costs are separate and can vary.
Do not pay for Florida teacher fingerprints before checking your route
Every applicant must complete required state and federal background screening before an educator certificate can be issued.
Public-school employee
Traditional public and charter school employees generally work through the employing district’s personnel office for fingerprint processing.
Other applicants
Follow the exact FDOE certification instructions for your applicant category and approved livescan route.
No single universal fingerprint fee applies to everyone. Livescan-provider, retention or district costs can be separate from certification application fees.
Verify a Florida educator certificate — then use the right complaint route
Public Certification Search
Use FDOE’s official public search to check certification status instead of relying on a résumé or third-party profile.
Disciplinary Actions
FDOE separately provides a public database for final disciplinary actions against Florida educator certificates.
Concern about an educator?
| Concern | Best first route |
|---|---|
| Teacher conduct / employment concern | School principal or administrator |
| Administrator conduct | District HR, charter administration or private-school administration |
| Possible action against a Florida Educator Certificate | FDOE Professional Practices Services after jurisdiction/legal-sufficiency requirements are considered |
| Non-certified employee | Employer/local process; Professional Practices jurisdiction is tied to educator certificates/applications |
Professional Practices investigates qualifying misconduct involving Florida-certified educators. Final certificate penalties are issued by the Education Practices Commission and can include reprimand, fine, probation, suspension or revocation.
FDOE’s Bureau of Educator Certification contact page provides both official tools at the top of the page.
Open Certification Search Tools →Student records and FDOE public records are not the same
| You need | Correct first stop |
|---|---|
| Public K–12 transcript | School district where the student last attended |
| Attendance / student record | School or district |
| Closed private high-school record | Public district that received the school’s permanent student records |
| GED transcript/diploma | Florida High School Equivalency / official transcript route |
| FDOE agency public record | FDOE Public Records |
FDOE does not maintain individual public K–12 student records. Those records are held by the district where the student last attended.
Florida public-record rights worth knowing
Student privacy still applies. A public-record request does not override protections on personally identifiable student records.
IEP disagreement? Choose the right Florida ESE resolution path
FDOE advises families and schools that resolving a concern closest to the school level and in the least adversarial manner can often save time and preserve working relationships.
Facilitated IEP
A trained facilitator helps the IEP team work through difficult discussions.
Mediation
A structured alternative dispute-resolution process with an impartial mediator.
State Complaint
A formal route for alleged noncompliance with applicable special-education requirements.
Due Process
Available for qualifying disputes involving identification, evaluation, educational placement or provision of FAPE.
Florida publishes redacted due-process hearing decisions after personally identifiable student information is removed.
Do not choose a formal legal process from a short summary alone. Read the current Procedural Safeguards and instructions for the exact dispute route.
Florida education funding: statewide numbers are not your district budget
K–12 public schools
The signed FY 2026–27 budget includes approximately $30 billion in K–12 public-school funding.
Per student
State budget materials cite $9,338 per-student investment.
Instructional salaries
Funding is identified for teacher and other instructional-personnel salary increases.
Safe Schools
The budget includes a statewide Safe Schools allocation.
Do not quote statewide per-student funding as a local school’s budget. District revenues, allocations, categorical funds and expenditures require district-specific finance records.
Which Florida education information is normally free to check?
Normally free
State Board schedules and agendas, School Grades, Know Your Schools, statewide assessment results, district contacts, scholarship guidance and public certification search.
Official fees may apply
Educator certification applications, fingerprint providers, certain transcripts, records copying and other official services can involve charges.
Do not pay an unofficial search website merely to see a public school grade, State Board agenda or Florida educator certification record.
Florida education task router
| You need | Best first stop |
|---|---|
| State Board agenda | Florida State Board Meeting page |
| Comment on Board rule/item | Current meeting instructions / FDOE Rules portal |
| Student school calendar | County school district |
| Bus route | District transportation office |
| School grade | Know Your Schools / School Grades |
| Student FAST date | Student’s school |
| FAST statewide results | FDOE 2026 Assessment Results |
| Public-school transfer | Receiving district Controlled Open Enrollment |
| FES / FTC / PEP application | Approved SFO administering the program |
| Hope Scholarship | School incident process, then Step Up For Students |
| Home Education Letter of Intent | Local county home-education office |
| Teacher certification | FDOE Bureau of Educator Certification |
| Verify educator certificate | FDOE Public Certification Search |
| Teacher employment complaint | School principal / district employer |
| Possible certificate misconduct | Professional Practices Services as appropriate |
| Public-school transcript | District where student last attended |
| FDOE agency public record | FDOE Public Records |
| IEP disagreement | School/district ESE team, then applicable FDOE dispute route |
Common Florida Board of Education problems and next steps
🗓️ I need the next Board meeting
Do: start with September 16, 2026 at Polk State College’s Winter Haven Campus, then recheck the official listing before travel.
🎤 I want to comment
Do: review the current meeting guidelines or use FDOE’s Rules portal for advance comment.
🎓 Search results show different Commissioners
Do: recognize the summer 2026 transition from Kamoutsas to Interim Commissioner Burns and Commissioner-Designate Mack.
📅 I need my child’s first day
Do: use the county district’s 2026–27 student calendar.
📊 I need a school’s current grade
Do: use the 2026 School Grades or Know Your Schools rather than an old search snippet.
📝 I need my child’s FAST score
Do: use the individual student report and school guidance; statewide files are for broader comparisons.
🏫 I want another public school
Do: check the receiving district’s Controlled Open Enrollment capacity and application.
🎒 I want a scholarship
Do: identify FES, FTC, PEP or Hope first, then use an SFO that currently administers that program.
🏠 I need to file home education
Do: send the Letter of Intent to the local county home-education office, not FDOE headquarters.
👩🏫 I need teacher certification
Do: determine whether you need an initial certificate, upgrade, renewal or reinstatement before paying a nonrefundable fee.
🔎 I need to check a teacher
Do: use FDOE Public Certification Search and the separate disciplinary-action tool when relevant.
📬 I need my transcript
Do: contact the district where the student last attended. FDOE does not maintain individual public K–12 student records.
🧩 I disagree with the IEP
Do: work locally first when appropriate, then compare facilitated IEP, mediation, state complaint and due process.
📜 Agenda says a rule was considered
Do: check the meeting record and final rule before stating that a proposal became final policy.
When your question belongs to a local Florida school board
Broward County Board of Education
Use for Broward calendars, local Board meetings, enrollment and district services.
Palm Beach County Board of Education
Use for Palm Beach County local school calendars, Board meetings and student services.
Brevard County Board of Education
Use for Brevard Public Schools, district calendars, enrollment and local Board information.
Florida Board of Education FAQs
When is the next Florida State Board of Education meeting?
The current FDOE meeting page lists September 16, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at Polk State College, Winter Haven Campus, Fine Arts Building in Winter Haven. Recheck the official page before attending because dates and locations can change.
Who is Chair of the Florida State Board of Education?
Ryan Petty is currently listed as Chair. MaryLynn Magar is Vice Chair.
Who is the Florida Commissioner of Education?
Florida is in a 2026 leadership transition. Dr. Paul O. Burns was appointed Interim Commissioner on June 30. Dr. Henry Mack was appointed as Florida’s next Commissioner on July 22 and was subsequently described by FDOE as Commissioner-Designate. Check the current FDOE Commissioner page for completion of the transition.
Does Florida have one statewide public-school calendar?
No. County school districts publish their own student calendars for first day, holidays, spring break, planning days, hurricane makeup dates and last day.
Where can I check Florida School Grades for 2026?
Use FDOE’s 2026 Florida School Grades page for downloadable reports or Know Your Schools to research individual public schools and districts.
Where can I find 2026 FAST results?
FDOE’s 2026 assessment-results page provides current FAST ELA, FAST Mathematics, B.E.S.T. Writing, EOC and other statewide result files.
How do I apply for a Florida school scholarship?
First identify the correct program, such as FES Educational Options, FES Unique Abilities, FTC, PEP or Hope. Family-facing eligibility and awards are generally handled through an approved Scholarship Funding Organization that administers the selected program.
How much does a Florida teacher certification application cost?
Many common certification transactions currently cost $75, including an initial certificate per subject, Temporary-to-Professional upgrade and renewal of a valid Professional Certificate. Other actions have different fees, and all certification application fees are nonrefundable.
Can FDOE send me my public high-school transcript?
No. FDOE does not maintain individual public K–12 student records. Contact the school district where the student last attended.
What should I do if I disagree with my child’s IEP?
Start with the school and district ESE team when appropriate. Florida also provides facilitated IEP, mediation, state complaint and due-process procedures for disputes requiring a formal resolution route.
Final Florida verification checklist
Correct agency?
Separate State Board policy, FDOE administration, county district services, individual schools and SFOs.
Current information?
Recheck meeting locations, Commissioner transition, scholarship rules, testing schedules and certification requirements immediately before acting.
Secure official route?
Use FDOE, the responsible district, school or approved SFO before providing student information, certification documents or payment.
Source scope reviewed August 15, 2026: FDOE State Board meetings and members; Commissioner transition releases; 2026 School Grades; Know Your Schools; 2026 statewide assessment results; 2026–27 assessment schedule; graduation requirements; Controlled Open Enrollment; Scholarship Funding Organizations; Hope Scholarship; home education; educator certification, fees and fingerprints; Professional Practices; FDOE Public Records/Open Government; Exceptional Student Education dispute resolution; and current 2026–27 statewide education funding material.
Independent-site notice: BoardofEducations.org is an informational guide and is not the Florida State Board of Education, Florida Department of Education, a Florida school district or a Scholarship Funding Organization. Current official rules, notices, records, forms and eligibility decisions control.