This crisis directly affects students. The 2023-2024 school year started with over 4,000 teacher vacancies, forcing schools to rely on substitutes, overburdened staff or larger class sizes. Many students go weeks — sometimes entire semesters — without a permanent teacher, undermining their ability to learn. Research confirms that teachers are the most influential factor in student success, yet Florida’s educators are being pushed out of the profession due to financial instability.