Featured Stories

Parental review of books, term limits for school boards, DeSantis enacts more new school laws

Ron DeSantis
(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Saying that parents have “a fundamental role, in the education of their kids,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the new “K-12 Education” bill into law at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach on Friday.

The new law will forbid the use of any instructional materials deemed to be “inappropriate for the grade level and age group for which the material is used” including material determined to be ‘pornographic’ in nature.

It also allows parents to conduct a review of a school’s teaching materials and library books and enables them to file an objection to any material they believe violates state standards or otherwise view as inappropriate.

“We reject those that say parents not only shouldn’t be involved, there’s some say parents don’t even have a right to know what is being taught [in schools],” the Governor said at the signing ceremony.

The law also puts a term limit of 12 consecutive years on school board members.

Parental involvement in public schools and the teaching material being used played heavily into recent Republican victories the state of Virginia.

DeSantis has already signed a law giving raises to teachers in Florida and he is expected to sign the “Parental Rights In Education” measure soon.

The laws signed today go into effect on July 1.