Jacksonville Public Education Fund

Duval County voters will soon elect four members to the Duval County School Board. These four seats represent a majority on the seven-member board, making this election crucial for the future of education in our community. If the sheer number of potential new members doesn’t compel you to vote, the critical issues at hand certainly should.    Education in Duval County is at a crossroads. Post-pandemic, our schools are grappling with the aftermath of learning loss and increased student absenteeism. While the teacher shortage is not as severe in Duval County Public Schools as it is in other Florida districts, a significant diversity gap between students and educators remains. The Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF), in collaboration with DCPS and UNF, is actively working to address this.    Our district also faces shrinking school enrollment given the expanded use of school vouchers in our state, and there are rising building costs and changes to the distribution of the half-cent sales tax as DCPS works to ensure every child learns in a 21st century learning environment. Collectively, these challenges have led to discussions about consolidating schools. The newly elected school board will be tasked with working alongside new DCPS superintendent, Dr. Christopher Bernier, who started on July 1st and is already hard at work on these issues as well as the district’s core mission of providing educational excellence for every student in every classroom every day.    During this time of considerable change, there are reasons for optimism. A few among them:  (1) Dr. Bernier brings a wealth of experience and innovative ideas to our district.  (2) Duval County Public Schools’ graduation rate remains high, and the district has maintained its overall grade of a high B, showing improvement across all academic areas.  (3) Technology is playing an increasingly vital role in education, and there's a growing demand for students to enter STEAM fields.     With so much at stake, we must remember what’s most important: the future of all Duval County public school students and therefore, the future of our community. We are shaping and defining that future now.     Despite the significance of these decisions, voter turnout for school board elections is alarmingly low. Only about 25% of registered voters participate, meaning that just 25 out of every 100 adults are making decisions about your child's education. School board members are responsible for selecting curricula, setting policies, and determining resources for our schools. This is too much responsibility to leave in the hands of so few.    Duval County voters, it's time to take action! Show up to vote for our children in the Aug. 20 primary election. Their future is too important to leave to others. Your vote is your voice—use it to shape the future of education in our community. Let's ensure that every child in Duval County has the opportunity to succeed.