DeSantis Keeps Promise, Launches Education Agenda for School Board Candidates

On Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis launched an education agenda focused on influencing local school board races in the 2022 election cycle.

Titled “The DeSantis Education Agenda: Putting Students First, Protecting Parents’ Rights,” the policies focus on issues related to student success, parental rights and curriculum transparency.

According to the website, “The DeSantis Education Agenda is a student-first, parent-centered initiative focused on setting Florida’s children up for success, ensuring parental rights in education, and combating the woke agenda from infiltrating public schools … .This statewide agenda is for school board candidates and school board members who are committed to advancing these priorities at the local school board level.”

In a statement provided to The Federalist, DeSantis championed the launch of the agenda, saying that “Florida has delivered the most student-focused, parent-centered education agenda in the nation” at a time when “curriculum in states around the country are being used as opportunities to indoctrinate innocent children.”

“Our school board members are on the front lines of what happens in our education system. In Florida, we value student success, parental rights, and curriculum transparency, and we need school board members who do the same,” he said. “We need strong school boards who will fight for these values and put students first.”

The agenda is a continuation of actions taken by DeSantis in the K-12 education sphere related to parental rights and curriculum transparency. Previous actions include the Parental Rights in Education Bill, which addressed parents’ rights related to mental health services provided at schools and a prohibition of instruction that is not age appropriate.

In addition, DeSantis signed a bill in March “which requires school districts to be transparent in the selection of instructional materials, including library and reading materials” and “aims to preserve the rights of parents to make decisions about what materials their children are exposed to in school.”

The bill also imposed term limits for school board members.

“I’m a big believer in term limits. But you don’t always have to wait for that,” DeSantis said. “You can throw the bums out in the election.”

During the summer of 2021, DeSantis signaled that he would be involved in school board races during a cable television interview with Dan Bongino on Fox News. DeSantis vowed to turn his “political apparatus” against Republican school board candidates who oppose his educational reforms.

“We’re not going to support any Republican candidate for school board who supports Critical Race Theory in all 67 counties or supports mandatory masking of school children,” DeSantis said.

Republished with permission from The Florida Capital Star.

Steve Stewart

Steve Stewart is the founder and editor of Tallahassee Reports which began in 2009 as an online blog. Steve received a Bachelors Degree from Clemson University in 1984 and a Masters degree in Political Science from FSU in 1990. He has been involved with state and local politics since arriving in Tallahassee in 1989.

View all posts by Steve Stewart →

12 Comments

  1. David T. Hawkins
    David T. Hawkins

    @ Robert..... Every, and I do mean EVERY Elected Official should be Term Limited. 2 Terms for 4 Year Terms and 3 Terms for 2 Year Terms.

  2. Hope
    Hope

    Robert,

    The schools have not performed academically as they should and they are implementing immorality, and depravity. The Best Governor in America has a plan to save our schools and get the schools back on track for the sake of our children, teachers, parents, mental health, and our future.

    This is a win-win for everyone!

  3. Barb
    Barb

    I think depravity (LGBT grooming and drag queens) in schools is unconscionable.

    I don't want to live in Sodom and Gomorrah. Thank you, Governor DeSantis for your sane and moral leadership.

  4. Robert
    Robert

    Sorry, but I think that the Governor throwing his weight into local school board elections is unconscionable. This is a lightly veiled attempt to influence people who are running for office. As a school board candidate, a person is being forced to align with DeSantis in order to win an election, rather than presenting their views and vision and letting the constituency in their respective school district make a decision. Once again, Gov. DeSantis is thumbing his nose at the democratic process and using "Trumpian" strong-arm tactics to influence candidates. It could not be MORE UNAMERICAN. A shameful display of authoritarian swagger, if you ask me.

  5. Hope
    Hope

    Barb,

    That's not the part I was questioning...
    On that you are 100% correct.

  6. Barb
    Barb

    Hope,

    "Walmart has pulled MyPillow products off its store shelves, prompting CEO Mike Lindell to lash out at the retail giant for “canceling” him." - New York Post 6/17/22

  7. Eddie
    Eddie

    he needs to keep his promise about constitutional carry....

  8. Hope
    Hope

    Barb,

    You might want to fact-check that again.

    My Pillow products are excellent I agree!

  9. Barb
    Barb

    Sadly, we have no Republican school board candidates. Actually, Republicans have no representation here in Tallahassee at all for anything.

    O/T, Walmart just cancelled MyPillow; their foolish woke move will cost them money. I buy all my pillows, sheets and towels only from MyPillow. BTW, it is easy to buy directly from MyPillow, you do not need woke company middle men anyway.

  10. Hope
    Hope

    Everyone should take the time to read this as it is excellent! Thank you Tallahassee Reports for publishing this.

💬

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