Florida – Tuesday, April 167, 2024: Gov. DeSantis signed the sweeping education bill Tuesday in a ceremony at Jacksonville Classical Academy, a charter school.
House Bill 1285 would encourage the adoption of “classical education” by providing a process for struggling schools to convert to charter schools. Under the new law, if a school receives either a D or an F for two consecutive years, it is considered a “flipping school” and the district must take corrective action. “We can't just leave these kids in an 'F' rated school,” the governor said.
The bill would also allow high school students to explore military service opportunities and ensure college students have part-time jobs while in school.
“By focusing on core academics and rejecting classroom indoctrination, we have become standard-bearers for educational excellence,” the governor said.
Education Commissioner Manny Diaz also said he would step up “efforts to increase the teacher pipeline,” citing a new law that allows teachers to earn a qualification in classical education.
HB1285:
- Allows classical schools to prioritize admissions for families transferring from one classical school to another.
- Allows aspiring teachers to obtain a Classical Teacher License developed by the State Board of Education.
- Requires school districts and charter schools to offer 11th and 12th grade students the opportunity to take the Military Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test and consult with military recruiters.
- Higher education institutions enable students to graduate from school.
- Protects against conflicts of interest between higher education institutions and their trustees.
Book challenge:
- Try to limit book challenges to individuals who don't have children who have access to district materials.
- Unrestricted objections remain for parents with children in the district, including home-schooled students who access district materials.
- Individuals without children in the district are limited to one appeal per month. Protect schools from activists who seek to politicize and disrupt the district's book review process.
Purple Star School of Distinction Program
- We continue to support military families with our Purple Star School of Distinction program.
- Establishes Purple Star School Districts and recognizes districts where Purple Star schools account for 75% of the schools in the district.
- Help ensure a smooth transition by requiring schools to provide support and resources to military families relocating to Florida.
