Florida Department of Education

Profile narrative

The Florida Department of Education serves as the state education agency responsible for overseeing public education across Florida's 67 school districts. The department administers federal and state education funding, develops academic standards, manages assessment and accountability systems, and provides technical assistance to local education agencies. Its scope encompasses early learning programs, K-12 public education, career and adult education, and coordination with the state university and college systems. The department also operates the Office of Student Financial Assistance, which manages state-funded scholarship and grant programs including the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

As a cabinet-level agency headed by the Commissioner of Education, who serves on the Florida Cabinet alongside the Governor, Attorney General, and Chief Financial Officer, the department holds significant regulatory authority over educator certification, school accountability ratings, and compliance with state and federal education laws. The department's reach extends to approximately 2.8 million students enrolled in public schools and thousands more in early learning and workforce education programs. Its data systems maintain records for students, educators, and institutions across the state's education infrastructure, making it a central repository for personally identifiable information and academic records.

In October 2026, the department experienced a significant cybersecurity incident involving its student aid website that potentially exposed the personal data of approximately 4.9 million individuals. The breach affected systems connected to financial aid processing and highlighted vulnerabilities in the department's digital infrastructure for managing sensitive student and applicant information. The incident prompted notifications to affected individuals and coordination with federal law enforcement agencies to assess the scope of data exposure and mitigate potential misuse of compromised information.

Incidents

2 incidents linked to this organisation.