Florida-based Moms for Liberty labeled ‘extremist’ in new report

The big story: Florida-based Moms for Liberty has gained influence as it has grown nationally, attracting major Republican presidential candidates to speak at its upcoming conference in Philadelphia.

One of its primary attractions has been fervent advocacy for what it calls a parental rights movement in education. As they’ve taken control of school boards across the state, its members have forced out superintendents, removed books and taken other steps aimed at eliminating what they consider liberal indoctrination.

The pushback against Moms for Liberty and similar groups has been fierce among individuals and organizations that say they prey on fear and create false narratives of what goes on in schools. Now the Southern Poverty Law Center has deemed Moms for Liberty, along with 11 others, as “anti-government extremist” groups.

“These groups publicize their fight for alleged parents’ rights while simply attempting to maintain absolute authority on issues they oppose,” the Southern Poverty Law Center stated. Moms for Liberty did not comment on the report. Read more from USA Today.

Hot topics

W-E-L-C-O-M-E H-O-M-E: A crowd of well-wishers cheered National Spelling Bee champion Dev Shah of Largo at the Tampa International Airport as he arrived home after his competition.

Teacher pay: With classes out for the summer, many Tampa-area teachers are turning to second jobs to make ends meet, Bay News 9 reports.

School leadership: Ten Hillsborough County schools are getting new principals.

Race relations: A Palm Beach County high school teacher faces termination over posting student photos and labeling them with coffee terms such as “dark roast,” the Palm Beach Post reports.

Culture wars: Michigan and Minnesota offer stark political contrast to Florida and other GOP-dominated states in their approach to public education, Politico reports.

College costs: Daytona State College is contemplating its first tuition increase in 13 years, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

Book challenges: Opponents of book banning in schools held another of their statewide seminars on the dangers of censorship, this time in Miami, the Miami Herald reports. • A St. Petersburg bookstore is expanding its operations to make banned and restricted books more available, WFTS reports.

Budgets: Florida Tax Watch included millions of dollars worth of education projects on its annual “turkey” list as Gov. Ron DeSantis examines the state budget for possible line-item vetoes, Florida Phoenix reports.

Attendance: Seven Hillsborough County seniors were recognized for never missing a day of school since starting kindergarten, WTSP reports.

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Athletics: The FHSAA board of directors held its final meeting before being replaced by new leadership to be appointed by the governor, WJXT reports.

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Before you go ... Zlatan Ibrahimovic has retired at 41. “The time has come to say goodbye to football, but not to you. See you around, if you’re lucky. Forza Milan and goodbye.” Some highlights.

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