DeSantis expected to sign bill limiting book challenges in school districts for non-parents

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign legislation limiting book challenges in school districts from non-parents in an effort to crack down on “frivolous” challenges.

The bill also seeks to help improve failing schools in the state by pushing for quicker turnaround times.

He celebrated the legislation, HB 1285, during a press conference on Monday in Pensacola.

“We’re number one for parental involvement in education in all of America,” DeSantis said. “We’re number one for education choice and education freedom in all of America.”

He emphasized how every year he has been governor, he has been able to provide increases in teacher salaries, more funding for school districts and bolstered school choice programs.

DeSantis explained that although the state has made significant strides in allowing for parental rights at school board meetings, someone individuals are taking advantage of the opportunity to report and challenge many books in the school libraries in order to make a “mockery” of the signed laws.

“You had examples where books were put under review that are just normal books that have been in education for many years,” he said.

DeSantis brought up a case where a teacher argued that the state was banning all of her books that she provides to students.

“That’s performative. That’s political. You’re trying to be an activist when you should be trying to be an educator,” he said.

DeSantis argued that parents have the “most significant interest” in the school board and their actions.

“If you don’t have kids in the school district, you still are a citizen, you still can be interested in education, but you’re going to be limited to what you can be objecting to,” he said.

The bill limits non-parent/guardian objections to one piece of library material per month, based on the district where the challenge takes place.

The governor said that another main focus of the education bill centers around advocacy for Florida’s Turnaround School Program.

He explained how public schools that consistently perform poorly are placed on turnaround status and are given two years to implement an improvement plan.

Some schools take advantage of the state’s friendly school choice atmosphere and convert to charter schools in order to better equip students and teachers with needed educational resources.

“This bill is really going to add some ‘oomph’ to our turnaround school status in terms of the charter school component of that,” he said.

“I think most importantly, districts are going to have to act promptly to do this. Once you’re in turnaround status, if you choose that charter school route, you’ve gotta enter into a contract and you’ve gotta move forward so that we can get change for the better,” he said.

Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. spoke in favor of the bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, and Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills.

“In Florida, we’re tasked with serving all students, not just some students. And we’re committed to taking swift, positive action when our schools are in peril,” he said.

He explained that once a failing public school has chosen to become a charter school, the school district must sign a contract within the year that they officially make the decision to convert.

Canady thanked the governor for his leadership on the issue of improving the state’s schools and ensuring parental rights.

“There are educators, there are school administrators, there are people all around our state who care more about what is good for children than what is easy for grown ups,” she said. “And when we all are focused on children, extraordinary things happen.”

After the bill is signed, it will go into effect on July 1. It has not yet reached DeSantis’ desk.