Tag: Florida Department of Education

Florida Education ‘Top Gun’ Tells Schools to Ignore Federal Guidelines on Gender Identity

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. told schools to “ignore federal guidelines aimed at preventing discrimination against students based on gender identity, saying they would “vastly expand the application” of Title IX. In a July 27 letter to superintendents, school boards, private schools, and charter schools, Diaz advised that guidance documents from the…


Federal Judge Sides With DeSantis on Mask Mandate Ban

On Wednesday night, a Miami federal judge handed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a victory when he ruled against parents of students with disabilities in a lawsuit over public school mask mandates. Twelve parents from eight different Florida school districts whose children have special needs sued the governor and the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) over…


Florida Governor Calls for End Annual Spring Testing in Florida Schools

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.—Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced the state is changing the way students are tested each year for academic understanding, putting an end to Common Core. “Florida’s education focus should be students’ growth and how we restore the conversation between parents and teachers in support of students’ growth,” said DeSantis. In a…


Florida Judge Sets Aside Automatic Stay, Allowing Schools Mask Mandates to Continue

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.—On Wednesday morning, Second District Court Judge John Cooper heard arguments from both sides over an automatic stay on Gov. Ron DeSantis’s executive order that allows parents to opt out of school districts mask mandates. The judge ruled to set aside the stay, allowing schools to continue to mandate facial coverings for students,…