Spring Hill, Fl.- March 28, 2022: Governor Ron DeSantis signed the controversial ‘Parental Rights in Education’ bill into law Monday. Opponents of House Bill (HB) 1557, dubbed it the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.
“Parents have every right to be informed about services offered to their child at school, and should be protected from schools using classroom instruction to sexualize their kids as young as 5 years old,” said Governor DeSantis at the bill signing news conference in Spring Hill.
In response U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, issued a statement accusing the Governor of targeting “some of Florida’s most vulnerable students and families, all while under the guise of 'parents' rights.'”
Cardona warned that DOE would “be monitoring this law upon implementation to evaluate whether it violates federal civil rights law” and he invited “any student who believes they are experiencing discrimination, including harassment, at school or any parent who is concerned that about their child experiencing discrimination can file a complaint with our Office for Civil Rights.”
The new law prohibits classroom discussion in grades K-3 on gender orientation and sexual identity, and it prohibits instruction that is not age appropriate for all students. It requires school districts to adopt procedures for notifying parents if there is a change in services from the school regarding a child’s mental, emotional or physical health or well-being.
Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez said the new law “refuses to allow school boards and teachers unions the ability to hide information about students from their parents,” adding that the measure had been “maliciously maligned” throughout the recently concluded Florida legislative session “by those who prefer slogans and sound bites over substance and common sense.”
The Florida Education Association also issued a statement critical of the new law saying DeSantis is putting his “political agenda ahead of what’s best for our students.” The FEA called the new law an unnecessary attempt “to give parents what they already have” and “prohibit what is not taught.”