| Since the end of Florida's 2022 legislative session, Gov. Ron DeSantis has toured the state to highlight new measures he's signed into law regarding education policy. (So far, he's approved nine of the 42 education-related bills passed during session.) At each stop, DeSantis has talked about how the initiatives — whether relating to financial literacy, gender lessons or book selection — will provide needed improvements for children's schooling. The laws won't necessarily impact all students, though.
— Jeffrey S. Solochek, jsolochek@tampabay.com
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| [DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times] |
| Lawmakers leave out charter schools for most education policy changes |
| Gov. DeSantis headed to a Pasco County charter school this week to offer a forceful defense of HB 1557, a bill dealing with school gender lessons and health services that has controversially become referred to as the "don't say gay" bill by its critics. During his comments, the governor talked about the importance of providing families with protections from the overreach of schools that attempt to make decisions about children without parental input. "In Florida, we not only know that parents have a right to be involved, we insist that parents have a right to be involved," DeSantis said before signing the bill into law. The approximately 340,000 children and families attending charter schools do not appear to be affected by the law, though. It applies to the chapter of Florida Statutes relating to district school board powers, a section from which charter schools are exempted. Some people have suggested the measure will impact charters, at least somewhat, because they are subject to statutes dealing with student health and welfare. Beyond that, the paragraph dealing with notification of parents about changes in service refers to the "parents' bill of rights" chapter, which does include charters. But the sponsor has stated it was not his intent to hold charters accountable to this new law. The same holds true for HB 1467, a measure refining how schools select books for their shelves, which DeSantis signed into law on Friday. It amends a chapter of statute relating to the duties of a district school board, which does not apply to charters.
A law requiring teens to pass a financial literacy course to be eligible for high school graduation makes changes to the statute on requirements for a standard diploma — again, a chapter that charters don't have to follow. Portions of the pending HB 7 on race lessons in schools, which DeSantis has said he will approve, alter state law on discrimination against students and employees in the K-20 public education system, from which charters are not exempted. They would, however, be exempt from portions of the bill that amend the statute on required instruction, which does not pertain to charters. To see a full list of the charter school statutory exemptions, read section 16 of this law.
Lawmakers who carried these bills said that although charters receive taxpayer funding, and are regularly defined as public, they should not have to face the same restrictions as district schools. Charters are "an experiment to see what kinds of schools are created and what the results are," said Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, who sponsored HB 1557. As such, he said, they need flexibility to make decisions about curriculum and other matters. Beyond that, Baxley said, charter schools were not having the problems addressed by the latest legislation. He added that the state does not directly oversee charter schools in the same way that it is responsible for district schools. "The distinction in this is always quite clear," Baxley said. Senate Education Committee chairperson Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, sponsored the law on book selection. He also aimed to distinguish charter and district schools by their governance. District schools are run by elected school boards, funded by state and local taxes and subject to Department of Education review, Gruters said. By contrast, charters are run privately with unelected boards that have contractual relationships with the school districts, he explained. They do receive state money and, in 2019, lawmakers required school districts to share revenue from local-option tax referendums with charter schools, a mandate recently upheld by a state appellate court. He questioned whether the state government should impose strict controls over private enterprises, even if they do receive state money. Senate Education vice chairperson Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, said Republicans are "double talking." He contended their approach toward Florida public education has the effect of undermining district schools as a place not to be trusted, paving the path for charters and vouchers to supplant them. At the same time, he said, the charters are largely free to do as they please — even if they disregard mandates the majority called for. "Of course they're not going to bother with the charter school system, because it's a business model for them and many of their friends," Jones said, arguing the only way out might be through elections. Gruters said he would be open to further conversation about how laws apply to charters. Stating the importance of the policies that lawmakers promoted, he said it's "probably not a bad idea to look into that and see if we want to expand into that next year." |
| TAMPA BAY EDUCATION ROUNDUP |
| [JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK | Times] |
| Florida high school students will have to pass a personal finance course to graduate. Bankruptcy lawyers and judges who promoted the measure are pleased the bill passed, despite taking years.
The Pinellas County School Board tightened its rules on public commenting at meetings. Critics complained the move violated their First Amendment rights.
The University of South Florida expanded its services for students. It debuted a new career center and a research facility for companies to collaborate with the school. Gov. DeSantis signed new law on gender lessons at a Pasco County school. Some parents there say they wish their school hadn't participated in the event. Stay on top of regional and state education issues. Visit the Tampa Bay Times online for the latest news. |
