DeSantis signs ‘Teacher Bill of Rights’ legislation

Amber Jo Cooper contributed to this report.

MIAMI (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law Tuesday that aims to give teachers more autonomy over their classrooms and the right to challenge illegitimate school orders.

“So that Teachers Bill of Rights is probably the most significant such piece of legislation anywhere in the country,” DeSantis said.

The legislation, HB 1035, was sponsored by Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman, R-Tampa, which she dubbed the “Teacher Bill of Rights.” Sen. Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami, sponsored the bill in the Senate.

It will provide instructors two options for responding to a school policy that is illegal.

Teachers would be able to request the commissioner of education name a special magistrate to investigate the claims and recommend a course of action.

Alternatively, as outlined in the bill, teachers could pursue a legal remedy in civil court in which they may be entitled to damages and “reasonable” attorney fees.

It also establishes the dual enrollment education scholarship program, so that high school teachers can obtain graduate degrees and credentials necessary to provide dual enrollment and enrollment coursework to high school students.

DeSantis said Florida gives the “ability” for students to take dual enrollment courses in order to earn college credits before they graduate high school.

The bill seeks to reduce what Pittman called “unnecessary or duplicate training requirements for teachers.”