School districts nationwide continue to be challenged by the national teacher shortage.  When this referendum passed in 2022, Duval had more than 400 teacher vacancies. The approved millage enabled the district to provide salary enhancements to recruit and retain teachers. Renewal of the millage will help Duval remain competitive with area school districts in teacher compensation and support every classroom with a certified teacher.  

The Learning Policy Institute published this conclusion in 2025: “Turnover is one of the key causes of teacher shortages because most open positions are created by teachers leaving the profession before retirement. Increasing teacher compensation and improving working conditions positively impact recruitment and retention efforts.”

The institute reported that, nationally, more than 411,000 teaching positions were either vacant or filled with teachers not certified for their assignment. Interest in teaching and enrollment in teacher preparation programs has dropped sharply in the last 15 years. Enrollment in teacher preparation programs in Florida dropped 33% between 2013 and 2021. According to a National Education Association Survey in January of 2022, 50% of teachers planned to leave education sooner than expected.

Yes.  Since voters approved the millage the first time in 2022, Duval has increased its teacher retention rate and reduced its teacher vacancy rate.  This means that more Duval classrooms have been staffed with properly certified educators and the number of students in each classroom better complies with constitutional requirements.

The district’s primary source of funding is set by the state. It’s called the Required Local Effort, and the state has significantly reduced the district’s millage rate since 2015. If voters approve continuation of the referendum, the additional mill helps restore funding lost from these reductions.

Every district in our area and 28 districts in Florida have passed a voter approved millage. Without renewal, Duval will be at a significant disadvantage in the recruitment and retention of teachers for our schools.  

The majority of the DCPS’s share of the millage will be used to compensate teachers, school police and other staff.  A portion, 12%, will be used to support student programming in arts and athletics.  State law requires that the district share funding with charter schools on a per-pupil basis.  Currently, district schools receive 81% of the total funding and charter schools receive about 19%.

One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value, minus the standard $25,000 homestead exemption. For example a $300,000 home with $275,000 in taxable value would pay $275 per year, or about $23 per month.