Florida’s Black history standards continue to cause a national stir

The big story: The buzz is still all about Florida’s African American history standards.

Much of the attention paid to the standards has focused on a couple of lines. But the full set of standards is pages long. What else is in there? A member of the commissioner’s Task Force on African American History said her group was not informed about the content until after it was complete, WTVJ reports.

A work group separate from the task force wrote the standards, WFTV reports.

Reaction to the standards is coming from all sides.

The nation’s largest Black fraternity decided to relocate its 2025 annual conference out of Florida because of them, Forbes reports. A Duval County high school social studies teacher resigned rather than teach the standards, which he called hostile and tainted, WJXT reports.

One of the largest churches in Miami Gardens, Florida’s largest primarily Black city, announced it will host a forum on the standards in August, the Miami Herald reports. Education commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. is scheduled to attend. Diaz sent a letter to superintendents on Wednesday saying his department stands behind the standards and expects them to be implemented.

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Naples Republican who’s supporting Donald Trump over Ron DeSantis for president, expressed concerns over parts of the standards. The DeSantis team quickly attacked Donalds, The Hill reports.

Amid all this, the DeSantis administration took to social media to note that the College Board’s African American studies course — which Florida has banned — also included a standard on skills learned by slaves.

Hot topics

Budgets: The Pasco County School Board gave its tentative approval to a budget of nearly $2 billion, close to 10% larger than a year earlier. No one from the community said a word at the public hearing.

Book challenges: A Polk County resident has objected to the presence of the “Assassination Classroom” series in public schools, Lakeland Now reports. A school based committee chose to keep the books, but the resident has appealed for a district review. • A federal judge heard arguments in a case seeking to return “And Tango Makes Three” to the shelves of Lake County schools, WKMG reports. A ruling is expected soon. Meanwhile, the district lifted its restriction on the book after receiving clarifications on the Parental Rights in Education law from the state, WESH reports.

Charter schools: The Florida Department of Education has proposed lowering accountability requirements for charter schools, The Capitolist reports.

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New College: Efforts to increase enrollment at New College of Florida have netted more new students, but the average grade point average and entry test scores are down as a result, the Herald-Tribune reports. • Gov. Ron DeSantis downplayed reports of high faculty turnover at New College, saying if Marxist studies experts are departing, he’s “totally good with that,” News Service of Florida reports.

School lunches: Unlike its neighbor, the Seminole County school district will not offer free meals to all students, WKMG reports. It’s not eligible for the federal program.

Superintendents: Recently departed Duval County superintendent Diana Greene has landed a spot as CEO of Philadelphia-based Children’s Literacy Initiative, Jacksonville Today reports. • Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Mark McQueen, a retired Army veteran who served as Panama City city manager, as Bay County schools superintendent, WJHG reports. McQueen replaces Bill Husfelt, who is retiring before his term expires.

From the police blotter ... A former financial director of a Miami-Dade County private school was arrested on accusations of stealing more than $245,000 from the school and spending it at a casino, WTVJ reports.

Don’t miss a story. Yesterday’s roundup is right here.

Before you go ... Lionel Messi is making an immediate mark in MLS. His starting debut vs. Atlanta featured two goals and an assist. Bienvenidos a Miami.

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