TAMPA, Fla. — On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that $200 million had been allocated in the state’s budget for the “Florida School Recognition Program.”
What You Need To Know
- $200 million has been allocated in Florida's budget for schools that maintained an "A" grade or moved up a letter grade
- Schools across Hillsborough County are set to receive $17.1 million of the "Florida School Recognition Program" funds
- Leto High School is one of 127 in Hillsborough to get funds after moving up to a 'B' grade for the second time in school history
As part of the program, schools that either maintained an “A” grade, or those that move up a letter grade, will receive a portion of those funds to be used however they see fit.
Schools in Hillsborough County are set to receive $17.1 million, and superintendent Addison Davis said it will be up to the schools to decide how they want to spend it.
“A lot of money being able to go to 127 schools, to be able to be divided upon employees to recognize them with additional pay, and with the same token, we can use these funds to add extended learning opportunities or purchase equipment to strengthen the academic core,” he said.
As part of this year’s budget, we allocated $200 million for school recognition awards for schools that demonstrated student growth & teaching excellence. We're sending awards to 1,400+ well-deserving schools across the state — many that can be used for more teacher compensation! pic.twitter.com/hAbIUclgeF
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 18, 2022
Leto High School is one of the 127 schools set to receive money. This is only the second time in the school’s 57-year history that it has received a “B” grade, and principal Larissa McCoy said it’s a huge honor.
McCoy said it took a lot of hard work to earn last year's grade, which earned the school recognition and a nice chunk of change.
“Although it always makes things nicer, money aside, this is really great for our community, because I think a lot of people think a lot of things about our school sometimes, and they’re wrong,” she said.
One thing she said the school does right is work together, and McCoy attributes the improvements the school has made to her teachers and the students.
Last year, teachers even rehearsed lessons for their peers for feedback on how to teach better, and McCoy said the students at Leto really gave 100%.
“So many of our kids are from other countries, specifically Cuba, and many of their parents brought them to Hillsborough County and to Tampa so they could have a life of opportunity they didn’t think they would get in Cuba," she said. "And our kids really rise to the occasion. They understand that sacrifice and here we are."
Because each school gets to decide how to spend the money from the Florida School Recognition Program, McCoy said school administrators will put together a group of teachers and staff to decide how to use it at Leto.