By: Dean Dancer, CWS®, Private Wealth Advisor, Senior Vice President Investments, Advisory Board Member, Lastinger Center for Learning
Jobs in the STEM field are expected to grow by 10% nationally by 2033, almost three times faster than non-STEM jobs (source – https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/stem-employment.htm). As a business leader in financial services here in Florida, I’ve had a front row seat to the surge in demand for STEM workers in our state. And at the heart of this changing economic landscape lies one critical skill—math.
Whether it’s manufacturing plants in our Panhandle, financial services firms in greater Tampa and Sarasota, or aerospace companies near Cape Canaveral, math is the foundation on which these industries are built. Unfortunately, our state faces a shortage of skilled workers in STEM fields, limiting our economic potential.
A key reason for this shortage is low math proficiency among Florida’s K-12 students, who represent our future workforce and leaders. On the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 21% of Florida’s 8th graders were proficient in math. And our secondary school students report liking math less and finding it less useful. This adds up to not only less success for young people—as students with strong math skills are more likely to succeed in the job market and have higher future earnings—but also less innovation and competitiveness in our local economy.
We have a duty to change this paradigm and improve K-12 math instruction in Florida if we want a bright economic future for our students and our state.
To start, we must take the time to listen to those on the front lines of math education in our state. With support from the Helios Education Foundation, the Lastinger Center for Learning at the University of Florida recently conducted a listening tour to gather feedback from teachers, parents, students and business and community leaders on how to strengthen K-12 math education. A key theme that came through in conversations is that the most important math skills for workers go beyond just doing calculations. Instead, skills like being able to explain one’s reasoning, locate and use resources and collaborate with others to solve problems were most frequently cited as critical to success after high school.
To foster these skills in students, we must invest in training teachers, who are so critical to student learning. Many teachers are doing amazing work, but they often lack the resources to meet the needs of all their students. By investing in their professional growth, we can give teachers the tools to provide the best math instruction to their students. This includes providing teachers with high-quality instructional resources, establishing credentialing programs and offering stipends or salary increases to incentivize their work.
Second, encouraging partnerships between schools and businesses can be a game changer. By working closely with educators, businesses can help ensure that Florida students learn high-demand skills. Last year, my team, Dancer Family Wealth Management of Raymond James, supported local middle school students participating in a stock market game. We helped them analyze real market trends, calculate potential returns, and understand risk management—skills that professionals in my industry use every day. One student excitedly told me that tracking stock performance made math feel “real” for the first time. Months later, her teacher shared that she had become one of the most engaged students in class. These experiences not only spark student interest in math but also help our industry cultivate a stronger, more prepared future workforce.
Improving math education in Florida’s K-12 schools is a critical step to improving the economic prospects for individuals, businesses and our state as a whole. Let’s act now to make Florida a national leader in K-12 math education – our future depends on it.
Raymond James & Associates, 2 N. Tamiami Trail Suite 804, Sarasota, FL 34236. 941.329.3280 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC.
Any opinions are those of Dean Dancer and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice.
Raymond James is not affiliated with The Lastinger Center for Learning or the Helios Foundation
Private Wealth Advisor is a designation awarded by Raymond James to financial advisors who have demonstrated mastery in anticipating and managing the expansive financial needs of high-net-worth individuals, families and organizations.