Orange County School Board Discusses Implementing Parental Rights in Education Law In Classrooms
ORANGE COUNTY (FLV) – During the Monday Rule Development Workshop, Orange County School Board members discussed implementing Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law in classrooms.
The school board is responsible for setting policy and meeting requirements set by the Florida Legislature and State Board of Education Rules.
Board members worked to outline and adopt the policy consistent with the statutes.
The law prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through 3rd grade and prohibits instruction that is not age appropriate for students. It requires school districts adopt procedures for notifying parents if there is a change in services from the school regarding a child’s mental, emotional or physical health or well-being.
The law builds on the Parents’ Bill of Rights, which was signed into law in Florida last year, and is part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Year of the Parent focus on protecting parental rights in education.
The Parental Rights in Education law (HB 1557) takes three key steps to protect students and put power back in the hands of parents:
- Prohibits classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in K-3 classrooms, and after 3rd grade, these conversations need to be age-appropriate.
- Ensures that at the beginning of every school year, parents will be notified about healthcare services offered at the school, with the right to decline any service offered.
- Ensures that whenever a questionnaire or health screening is given to K-3 students, parents receive it first and provide permission for the school to administer the questionnaire or health screening to their child.
The board discussed parents opting out of certain parts of health education that involve reproductive health, HIV and AIDS.
“They have the right to opt-out and they should not be penalized for opting out,” John Palmerini, OCPS deputy general counsel reportedly said.
Board members agreed the policy means the most basic of health services will continue to require consent forms.
Parents will be able to give their feedback on the revised policy at a public hearing on Dec. 13.
“Parents’ rights have been increasingly under assault around the nation, but in Florida we stand up for the rights of parents and the fundamental role they play in the education of their children,” DeSantis previously said on the Parental Rights in Education law.
“Parents have every right to be informed about services offered to their child at school, and should be protected from schools using classroom instruction to sexualize their kids as young as 5 years old.”
The Florida State Board of Education previously adopted amendments for disciplinary actions to take place if teachers violate the Parental Rights in Education law and the Stop “WOKE” Act.
To read the full law, click here.
