Florida teachers face stiffer sanctions over classroom restrictions

The big story: Florida teachers are becoming ever more anxious about what they can say in their classrooms.

State officials keep tightening the laws and rules governing the content, adding tough penalties to those found in violation.

The latest version of the Principles of Professional Conduct, which recently landed in district leaders’ inboxes, outlines a half-dozen new prohibitions for teachers to ponder. Among them, teachers are not to “intentionally” provide instruction on gender identity unless it is specifically provided for in state standards.

The State Board of Education concurrently adopted new definitions of moral turpitude to include exposing students to adult entertainment.

Teachers say they’re feeling the threat. Read more here.

Hot topics

Achievement gaps: The principal of a Flagler County elementary school who called segregated assemblies to tell Black students they need to perform better has resigned, WKMG reports. She said she hoped the situation would lead to needed conversations about overcoming poor test results among Black students and students with disabilities.

Book challenges: Florida schools removed 386 books from their shelves after 1,218 objections. The reasons behind some of the titles might surprise you, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Budgets: The Volusia and Flagler county school boards approved budgets with slightly lower tax rates, but property owners could still pay more are values are increasing, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports. • The Brevard County School Board unanimously approved a $1.6 billion budget, Space Coast Daily reports.

Culture wars: Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed senior chancellor Kimberly Richey, a vocal opponent of critical race theory, to represent Florida on the Education Commission of the States, Florida Politics reports. • Newly released appointments to Florida House education-related committees suggest more culture war debates are on tap for the 2024 legislative session, Florida Politics reports.

Early education: Polk County superintendent Frederick Heid has proposed expanding the school district’s prekindergarten programs as a way to boost students’ literacy, Lakeland Now reports.

School board elections: Hillsborough County School Board member Jessica Vaughn, targeted for defeat by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is wavering on whether to seek another term.

Social studies books: The Leon County School Board ignored the recommendations of a teacher committee when adopting new K-5 social studies textbooks for the year, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Testing: Some Palm Beach County high school students might have to retake their Advanced Placement exams after the school lost their materials before they were graded, the Palm Beach Post reports.

From the court docket ... An appellate court has upheld the suspension of a Leon County principal accused of misusing school funds, WCTV reports.

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In higher ed

College football: The State University System Board of Governors unanimously approved allowing the University of South Florida to borrow up to $200 million toward the construction of an on-campus football stadium.

Entrance exams: The Board of Governors approved students using the Classic Learning Test as an option for student applying to state universities, The Hill reports. Florida is the first state to adopt the exam, which primarily has been accepted by small religious institutions. More from NPR.

Free speech: The University of Florida’s Independent Alligator has rejected ads for abortion services amid concerns over new state law limiting discussion of certain topics on university campuses, the Miami Herald reports.

President searches: The state university system chancellor says an investigation into Florida Atlantic University’s presidential search has been delayed because the school has lawyered up, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

Tenure: The Board of Governors adopted new rules requiring post-tenure reviews of faculty members, among several moves aimed at limiting tenure of professors, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. The move comes at a time when surveys have shown large percentages of professors considering moves out of the state.

Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to Friday’s roundup.

Before you go ... Were you not impressed with Delray Beach teen sensation Coco Gauff’s remarkable comeback from a set down to dominate the US Open final?

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