The Florida Department of Education has proposed a new rule that could result in the suspension or revocation of teaching licenses for educators who purposely teach students in grades K-3 about gender identity or sexual orientation. This amendment aims to enforce the state’s Parental Rights in Education law, which has been criticized by opponents as the "Don’t Say Gay" law. While the law prohibits instruction on these topics in K-3, it allows for age-appropriate teaching in higher grades.
The proposed amendment was initially introduced in August and was approved by Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. on September 23, just a day before Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Florida due to Hurricane Ian.
Alex Lanfranconi, the director of communications for the state education department, stated that it should come as no surprise that educators may face consequences if they violate state law. According to Lanfranconi, the proposed amendment will not affect teachers who adhere to the law and focus on delivering high-quality classroom instruction aligned with state academic standards.
The Florida education department did not provide specific details on how they will determine when a teacher’s license would be suspended or revoked. The rule states that any violation of these principles may lead to revocation or suspension of an educator’s certificate, or other penalties as dictated by law. The final rule could be approved as early as this month.
Earlier this year, gay rights activists filed a lawsuit against the department and the governor, arguing that the law infringes upon the freedom of speech and equal protection rights of LGBTQ students and families.
Brandon Wolf, the press secretary of Equality Florida, a nonprofit LGBTQ advocacy group involved in the lawsuit, stated that they have not yet seen the approved version of the rule that could impact teacher licensure. Wolf expressed concern that the proposed amendment represents a dangerous escalation by the Department of Education, extending the enforcement of the law beyond its original language and targeting individual teachers who simply acknowledge the existence of LGBTQ individuals. Wolf added that this move could potentially ruin the careers of these teachers.
The president of Florida’s largest teachers’ union, the Florida Education Association, criticized state officials and lawmakers for focusing more on threatening and punishing teachers instead of prioritizing their retention and recruitment. The union believes that bringing ideological debates into classrooms will only exacerbate the existing shortage of teachers and support staff in Florida.
Earlier this year, Florida made headlines for easing the requirement of a bachelor’s degree to allow more military veterans to work in classrooms as a solution to staff shortages. In a similar case, the Oklahoma secretary of education, Ryan Walters, publicly called for the revocation of a high school English teacher’s teaching certificate after she fought against book banning efforts in her school. Walters, who holds a cabinet-level position in the Oklahoma governor’s office, is currently running for the position of state superintendent, overseeing Oklahoma schools.
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