The School Board of Lake County and Florida education officials have reversed their decision to restrict access to the popular children's book "And Tango Makes Three" due to the "Don't Say Gay" law. The law, which was challenged by the ACLU and other advocacy groups, has been found to violate students' First Amendment rights. The book is now available to students in Lake County schools, and its message of acceptance and inclusion is one that should be shared with all children.
Posts tagged as “The Florida Department of Education’”
The Florida Department of Education has effectively banned the teaching of Advanced Placement Psychology in the state, instructing superintendents to exclude any mention of topics such as sexual orientation and gender identity. This ban has been met with criticism from many, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the National Center for Transgender Equality, who have both released statements condemning the ban. The College Board has expressed sadness at the decision and will continue to advocate for access to a full and comprehensive education for all students.
The College Board has released a statement condemning the Florida Department of Education's "slander" of its African American Studies course. They have expressed regret for not immediately denouncing the comments and called for the attacks on Black scholars to stop. Governor DeSantis has said he will “re-evaluate” the state’s relationship with the College Board, but the outcome of this evaluation is unclear.
The College Board has accused the Florida Department of Education of "slander" in response to their critiques of the new AP African American Studies course. The course covers topics like mass incarceration and reparations, and is intended to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of African American history and culture. The College Board has vowed to continue to fight for the course, and to ensure that all students have access to a comprehensive education.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has defended the state's decision to block an Advanced Placement course on African American studies, citing its inclusion of lessons on Black queer theory and the prison abolition movement. He argued that the course was an attempt to "shoehorn in queer theory" and impose a political agenda on students, and called it "indoctrination". The proposed course was a multidisciplinary study of the African American diaspora, but DeSantis said the state will not allow courses that are used to push a political agenda.
The Florida Department of Education's Office of Articulation has blocked the introduction of a new Advanced Placement course for high school students on African American studies, citing that it is "inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value." Education advocates have argued that such courses are essential for students to gain a better understanding of the history of the United States, sparking a debate about the importance of providing students with access to courses that focus on African American studies. The College Board has yet to respond to the letter from the Office of Articulation, and it remains to be seen whether the course will be allowed to move forward.