FLORIDA - Florida's average SAT scores have hit a new low prompting concerns among educators about declining academic performance.
Florida's average SAT scores have fallen to 948 in 2024, an 18-point drop from last year and nearly 70 points lower than in 2017, raising alarm among educators about the state’s educational trajectory.
Paul Cottle, a physics professor at Florida State University, expressed concern over the decline, telling NBC 2 WESH it "a tragedy for Florida students."
Cottle noted a troubling trend where he has had to reteach fundamental math skills in his own classroom, a shift he says only began in recent years.
"The most important thing we can do to address these SAT issues is to recruit more strong teachers into public schools," Cottle said.
He highlighted the need to make teaching a more attractive career, pointing out that while starting teacher salaries have improved in many districts, experienced teachers face financial challenges that discourage long-term commitment.
"Experienced teachers often find their salaries insufficient to support starting a family, even as they advance in their careers," Cottle said.
While some attribute the drop in test scores to the lingering effects of the pandemic, Cottle believes the issue predates COVID-19 but acknowledges the pandemic may have exacerbated the problem.
Despite the concerning trend, Cottle remains hopeful, citing a recent show of public support for education funding.
In 2024, voters approved 21 out of 22 school ballot initiatives aimed at increasing funding through taxes.