MEMORANDUM
TO: Florida PK-12 Teachers Florida Parents
FROM: Henry Mack, Ed.D.
DATE: August 14, 2026
SUBJECT: Welcome Back to Florida’s Schools
Welcome to the new school year! Across Florida, students are returning to classrooms filled with
energy, excitement, and new opportunities. Teachers have prepared engaging lessons, and school
leaders have welcomed back teachers, students, and families for another year of learning,
discovery, and growth.
A new school year gives every student a fresh start—new chances to learn, set goals, build
friendships, overcome challenges, and discover interests. Florida’s students continue to achieve at
high levels. Our statewide high school graduation rate reached a record 92.2 percent for the
2024-25 school year, the highest in Florida’s history. This progress reflects clear expectations,
strong academics, and excellent teaching.
We are committed to an education that transmits the enduring knowledge of Western Civilization,
forms young people for the responsibilities of democratic citizenship, and equips them with the
skills, habits, or virtues needed for meaningful work and a well lived life.
Moreover, success is not measured by a single pathway. The outdated “college-for-all” model that
treats a four-year degree as the only marker of achievement is a mistaken one. Florida students
deserve multiple high-quality routes—academic, technical, and/or industry-credentialed—so every
graduate can contribute to our economy and communities. As you begin the new year, please consider
how the Department of Education may help reinvigorate interest in the skilled trades, Registered
Apprenticeships, and other work-based learning opportunities to drive life-sustaining wage
attainment, quicker.
To our teachers: Thank you. Thank you for bringing knowledge, creativity, and commitment to your
classrooms each day. Principals, school leaders, and staff work tirelessly to create safe,
welcoming schools where students can focus on learning. You are the heroes of many.
To our parents: Thank you for trusting us with your child. As you know, you play an essential role
in the education of your child. You know your child’s strengths, interests, needs, and aspirations
better than anyone. When parents and educators communicate openly and work toward shared goals,
students benefit. I encourage every family to stay connected with teachers, review progress,
celebrate accomplishments, and set high expectations, including consistent attendance and strong
study habits.
Together, we share a responsibility to protect the safety, well-being, and innocence of Florida’s
students. Childhood is a precious and fleeting season that must be guarded with vigilance. Schools
must remain places where young people can learn, grow in character, and develop the habits of free
citizens, free from content or agendas inappropriate for their age or that seek to undermine the
innocence of children. If you believe an educator or school administrator has engaged in misconduct
affecting the health, safety, or welfare of a student, please report it. Every school district must
maintain reporting procedures, and the Department provides additional information on reporting
educator misconduct and abuse. When allegations involving certified educators fall within the
Department’s authority, we investigate and take appropriate action.
Moreover, families can visit the Department’s Parental Rights resources to learn more about the
rights Florida law provides and the options available when a concern cannot be resolved locally.
Parents may also contact the Department at ParentalRights@fldoe.org.
For students and families exploring career and technical education, Registered Apprenticeships,
short-term credentials, and high-wage pathways, the Department’s Get There Florida initiative
(GetThereFL.com) provides clear information on programs at Florida’s state colleges and technical
centers and colleges. These options allow students to gain marketable skills quickly and affordably
while keeping doors open for further education.
In addition, the Department is proud to provide resources for parents to support their children’s
academic journey at home for success in Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Resiliency. Each
resource outlines key concepts and skills taught by grade level, defines important terms, and
offers practical activities and questions to encourage learning beyond the classroom; all aligned
to the B.E.S.T. Standards. Parent resources include:
Lastly, I would like again to thank Florida’s teachers, principals, and school staff for their
professionalism and purpose. Each day they help students develop the knowledge, skills, character,
and civic understanding needed to succeed as informed citizens and productive members of our
workforce.
I look forward to working alongside you to make this an outstanding school year—one that forms
minds, strengthens character, prepares young people for meaningful work, and protects the innocence
of childhood. Should you need anything, please do not hesitate to email me at
HM
cc/
Paul O. Burns, Ed.D., Senior Chancellor Ashely Meros, PhD., Chancellor
School District Superintendents
Charter School Directors/Leaders