Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, has risen quickly within the Republican party. The governor switched his attention to education policy after solidifying his position as a major national figure during the pandemic. DeSantis has pushed to restructure Florida’s educational system as part of an all-out assault on what he perceives as the progressive indoctrination of American youngsters.
The governor’s education agenda includes thoroughly examining the reading materials used in the classroom and limitations on discussing racial and sexual issues with kids. Here is an overview of DeSantis’ past initiatives to reform education in the Sunshine State as he prepares for a rumoured presidential bid.
Florida’s Education Laws
To prevent discussions on race and gender in the workplace and schools, the Stop WOKE Act was passed in 2022. The GOP has appropriated the term “woke” to refer to all progressive ideologies. The Parental Rights in Education Act, also known as “Don’t Say, Gay,” was signed by Governor DeSantis.
It forbids school staff from sharing information about a student’s mental or physical well-being with parents and limits discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom. A recent rule signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mandates that all children’s books must be reviewed by a “district employee holding a valid educational media specialist certificate.”
- Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, has risen quickly within the Republican party.
- DeSantis’ past initiatives to reform education in the Sunshine State as he prepares for a rumoured presidential bid.
- A second law prohibiting state funding for DEI programmes at public colleges was signed by DeSantis in May.
This law prohibited any material judged “pornographic” or “not suited to student needs,” and the Florida teachers’ union sued the state Department of Education for violating it. The DeSantis administration responded by rejecting a large number of textbooks and by signing legislation that imposed stringent new standards on public-sector unions.
The bill also establishes term limits for school board members, approves teacher raises and professional development plans, introduces a Teachers’ Bill of Rights, and bans access to social media and TikTok on school Wi-Fi. HB 999: Public Postsecondary Educational Institutions would limit institutions’ consideration of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, reduce faculty tenure, and prohibit students from majoring in critical race theory.
A second law prohibiting state funding for DEI programmes at public colleges was signed by DeSantis in May. The measure limits how race and gender can be taught in higher education institutions, forbids faculty and staff from committing DEI, and increases apprenticeship programmes.
Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, has started his campaign to eliminate “wokeness” on college campuses at The New College of Florida.
DeSantis reorganised the board of trustees in 2023, removed President Patricia Okker, and appointed Richard Corcoran in her place. The change has drawn criticism, and some private donors might stop giving.
DeSantis also issued a survey to Florida’s 12 public institutions and 28 state and community colleges asking them to report whether they offer transgender health services to students. This follows his signing of a bill that forbids transgender athletes from competing on women’s public school teams.
