ByBishop John Jackson, Florida State Spokesman, Protect Our Children Project
As the final school bells of the 2025-2026 academic yearring across the Sunshine State, we pause to celebrate a remarkable milestone:our 2026 graduates. To every senior who has balanced textbooks, exams, andlife’s challenges with resilience, congratulations. You have earned thismoment.
To our younger learners moving up to middle school, highschool, or their next great adventure: your communities believe in you and haveworked tirelessly to ensure your classrooms are places where you can thrive.Your success is the measure of our collective commitment to Florida’s future.
At the Protect Our Children Project, we believe truecelebration cannot be separated from reflection. As we honor our graduates, wemust also address the urgent responsibilities that remain ensuring everyFlorida child receives a quality education in an environment that prioritizestheir safety and well-being.
Investingin Excellence: Quality Education for Every Child
Florida has made historic strides. Governor Ron DeSantis’“Floridians First” budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 allocates $30.6billion for K-12 education and raises per‑student funding to $9,406, anincrease of $279 per child. For the seventh consecutive year, teacher salarieshave received a boost, with the budget adding $200 million to bring totalteacher pay funding to $1.56 billion.
Quality education begins with quality educators, andFlorida is committed to retaining the best teachers for our children.Additionally, the budget dedicates $190 million (a $10 million increase) tomental health services in our schools, alongside $5.5 million formental health awareness and assistance training. When students feel supportedemotionally, they are better prepared to learn.
Yet, more work remains. The Florida Education Associationhas raised legitimate concerns about ensuring these funds reach all educatorsequitably and that public schools receive the resources they truly need. TheProtect Our Children Project will continue advocating for transparent,effective allocation because protecting our children means giving them everyopportunity to excel.
Fortifyingthe Classroom: Safety as a Non‑Negotiable Priority
No celebration of our graduates is complete withoutacknowledging the environment in which they learned. Over the past year,Florida has enacted significant measures to strengthen school safety, and ourmessage is clear: every child deserves a secure and nurturing classroom.
The most notable advancement is HB 757, signedinto law in May 2026, which expands and strengthens the Florida GuardianProgram. For the first time, public colleges and universities may participate,allowing qualified faculty to serve as school guardians after completingrigorous training: a concealed weapons permit, a psychological evaluation,and 144 hours of comprehensive instruction. The law also creates anew felony offense for discharging a weapon within 1,000 feet of aschool during school hours or sanctioned activities.
HB 757 requires every school to:
Additionally, Fortify FL, the state’s publicsafety reporting tool, must be prominently accessible on all school devices,giving students and staff a direct line to report concerns.
Protecting the MostVulnerable
Beyond the classroom, Florida has taken decisive action tosafeguard children from abuse and neglect. SB 362 strengthensthe central abuse hotline, requiring immediate electronic transfer of reportsto local law enforcement and mandating prompt protective investigations.Meanwhile, HB 47 (Patterson’s Law) protects families fromwrongful separation when a child’s medical condition, such as Ehlers‑Danlossyndrome, rickets, or osteogenesis imperfecta, may mimic signs of abuse. Thisbipartisan legislation ensures that medical experts are consulted before anycustody decisions are made, preventing unnecessary trauma for both children andfamilies.
A Callto Continued Vigilance
To the Class of 2026: As you step into the next chapter ofyour lives, college, career, military service, or other pursuits, carry withyou the knowledge that your community has invested in your safety and educationbecause you matter. You are the future leaders, innovators, and protectors ofFlorida.
To parents, educators, and policymakers: Our work is notdone. The Protect Our Children Project remains committed to advocating forpolicies that put children first, policies that invest in quality teachers,secure classrooms, mental health resources, and the prevention of abuse. Wecall on every Floridian to join us in building a state where every child canlearn, grow, and achieve their dreams without fear.
Congratulations, graduates. May your futures be as brightas the Florida sunshine, and may we all work together to keep it that way.