Governor Ron DeSantis signs legislation meant to further enhance education in Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A new education bill in Florida could create more charter schools.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1285 on Tuesday, which the Governor says simplifies the process to convert failed “turnaround schools” to charter schools.

DeSantis says it streamlines the book objection process to limit challenges from those who don’t have children in the school system.

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“Florida is the number one state in the country for education,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “By focusing on core academic subjects and rejecting indoctrination in the classroom, we have become a standard-bearer for educational excellence. The legislation I signed today continues to build on Florida’s previous accomplishments.”

“Florida strives to provide students and families with the highest quality standards and most innovative pathways to academic success,” said Education Commissioner, Manny Diaz, Jr. “The teaching certificate in classical education bolsters our efforts to increase the teacher pipeline. This is one more reason why Florida is known as the Education State.”

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HB 1285 does the following:

• Requires that school districts and charter schools provide 11th and 12th grade students with the opportunity to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Test and the ability to consult with a military recruiter.
• Ensures postsecondary institutions allow students to work their way through school.
• Protects from conflicts of interest between a postsecondary institution and its trustees.
• Empowers aspiring teachers to obtain a classical teaching certificate developed by the State Board of Education.
• Enables classical schools to prioritize enrollment for families moving from one classical school to another.
• Provides a clear and concise process for a struggling school to convert to a charter school.
• If a school receives consecutive low performance evaluations, it is deemed a “turnaround school.” If the district’s plan to turn the school around does not succeed, the pathway for the school to find new direction and leadership should be simple and efficient
• These changes will eliminate lengthy and drawn-out negotiations between the incoming charter school and the school district, to ensure no student is trapped at a failing school in Florida
• A charter school must give preference to kids in the previous school zone and must serve the same grade levels as the previous school.
• The charter school cannot be charged rent for the facility and the school district cannot charge an administrative fee.
• Ensures that book challenges are limited for individuals who do not have children with access to the school district’s material.
• Unlimited objections remain for parents with children in the school district, which includes homeschooled students accessing district materials.
• Individuals without children in the district will be limited to one objection per month.
• Protects schools from activists trying to politicize and disrupt a district’s book review process.
• Continues to support military families with the Purple Star Schools of Distinction Program.
• Institutes Purple Star School Districts, which recognizes districts with Purple Star Schools making up 75% of schools in their district.
• Helps to ensure a seamless transition for military families moving into Florida by requiring schools to provide them with support and resources.

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Watch full press conference below:

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