Republicans have said the law is intended to keep parents informed of what children learn and are exposed to in schools. He notes that elementary schools, especially in kindergarten through third grade, do not teach these subjects.Ī less-talked-about aspect of the law requires districts to notify parents of health care services offered in schools and give them the option to decline them.ĭistricts will also be required to notify parents if there is any change in a student’s mental, emotional or physical health monitoring. He said what passing the law did was to "set clear guardrails.”Īndrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, said the law is nothing more than a political wedge issue for Republicans. work it out so people have that clear understanding,” Corcoran said. Corcoran points to a section of the legislation that requires his agency to draw up additional guidelines. Consequently, teachers might opt to avoid the subjects entirely at all grade levels for fear of being sued, they say.ĭeSantis and Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran have waved off those concerns. Republicans have chafed at that phrasing, chiding advocacy groups and news outlets that have used it.Ĭritics of the law say its language - “classroom instruction,” “age appropriate" and “developmentally appropriate” - is overly broad and subject to interpretation. In that vein, they have labelled the measure the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Opponents of the law say banning lessons about gender identity and sexual orientation marginalizes LGBTQ people and their presence in society. Parents do not want this going on in their schools.”ĭeSantis said the graphic was being used in Florida and other states. This is inappropriate for kindergarteners and first graders and second graders. “It's trying to say that they can be whatever they want to be. “This is trying to sow doubt in kids about their gender identity," DeSantis said. The graphic has been included in various anti-bullying training programs and offered as a resource by the Washington-based LGBTQ rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign and others.
Parents would be able to sue districts over violations.ĭuring his bill signing ceremony, DeSantis presented an example of what he considers inappropriate teaching material for the young students: A poster containing a drawing of “The Genderbread Person,” developed to help students learn about and distinguish between anatomical sex, gender expression, gender identity, sexual attraction and romantic attraction. The law's central language reads: “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” Democrats have said the law demonizes LGBTQ people by excluding them from classroom lessons. Republicans argue that parents should broach these subjects with children. Ron DeSantis signed into law Monday, bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through the third grade. The GOP legislation, which Republican Gov. over legislation that critics have labelled the “Don't Say Gay" law.
Florida has come under intense scrutiny in the U.S.