I-TEAM: Newly released documents reveal which items were flagged as Critical Race Theory in textbooks
The News4JAX I-TEAM is digging through thousands of documents just released by the Florida Department of Education. They reveal what textbook reviewers flagged as Critical Race Theory (CRT) and other prohibited topics which led to the rejection of 54 unpublished math books. Governor DeSantis has targeted Critical Race Theory -- saying the book authors are trying to ‘indoctrinate” Florida students.
Florida’s Education Dept. rejects 54 school textbooks for ‘prohibited topics’
In its review of 132 math textbooks that were submitted for consideration, the Florida Department of Education rejected 54, claiming they contain ‘prohibited topics’ such as critical race theory, social-emotional learning and Common Core frameworks.
Controversial ‘viewpoint’ survey sent to Florida’s colleges draws criticism from faculty
The survey is in response to HB 233 signed into law in 2021 by Governor DeSantis, who, at the time, claimed universities were prone to suppressing certain political viewpoints, though he did not cite any specific examples or elaborate on which viewpoints were being suppressed.
Disney suspends all political donations in Florida in the wake of ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill
Despite movies with LGBTQ characters and "gay days" at its theme parks, Disney has contributed funding to every Republican that supported the anti-LGBTQ legislation known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. In response to backlash, the company says it will pause political donations in Florida.
washingtonpost.comDeSantis blasts Disney for ‘woke’ response on Florida sexual identity in schools bill
Gov. Ron DeSantis is condemning Disney’s response to Florida’s bill banning discussion of sexual orientation and identity in some classrooms, calling the company “woke” and saying it’s fallen for “phony hysteria” from the corporate media.
Before rejecting covid vaccines for kids, Florida surgeon general Joseph Ladapo made another disconcerting assertion
Shortly before announcing that the state wouldn't recommend vaccines for children, Joseph Ladapo described the need to "hold accountable" those who advocated preventive measures.
washingtonpost.comGov. Ron DeSantis scrambles Florida’s redistricting debate, with an eye to 2022 and perhaps 2024 elections
The Republican governor, under pressure from a former Trump adviser, incited a redistricting battle with his own party, roping the state’s two legislative chambers into the fray and asking the state’s highest court to pick sides.
washingtonpost.comDeSantis invokes MLK as he proposes ‘Stop W.O.K.E. Act’ against critical race theory
The governor's Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act — which comes months after Florida banned the teaching of critical race theory in public schools — would give parents the “private right of action” to sue if they think their kids were being taught critical race theory
washingtonpost.comUniversity of Florida bars faculty from testifying in voting rights lawsuit against DeSantis administration
The public university said the political scientists could pose “a conflict of interest to the executive branch” and harm the school’s interests if they testified against the law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
washingtonpost.comDeSantis: Satellite company to invest $300 million, bring 2,000 jobs to Florida’s Space Coast
Terran Orbital, a micro-satellite company, plans to invest $300 million in a massive commercial spacecraft and constellation facility to Space Florida on Merritt Island, Gov. DeSantis and the company announced Monday.
As DeSantis pressures school districts on COVID-19 policy, Biden administration replaces withheld state funds
In its latest emergency rule issued Wednesday, the Florida Department of Education renewed pressure on local school boards to refrain from mandating face masks without a parental option to opt-out, something at least 10 school districts have done anyway.
Disney cruises joins others, requires vaccine passports. Drop your deadly fight, Gov. DeSantis | Editorial
Now that Disney Cruise Line has joined Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian in planning to require COVID vaccines for passengers 12 and older, it’s time for Florida’s governor to drop his nonsensical court fight — using our money — to defend the state’s dangerous ban on vaccine passports.
news.yahoo.comBiden tells education secretary to take on governors blocking masks in schools
During a Wednesday afternoon news conference on the COVID-19 crisis in America, President Joe Biden said he is directing the secretary of education to take action against governors who attempt to block school mask mandates.
After hearing from medical advisors, Miami-Dade Schools’ decision on masks is a no-brainer | Editorial
Miami-Dade County Public Schools leaders will need to do a lot of mental and political gymnastics to justify anything other than a mask mandate after spending almost two and a half hours listening to medical advice Monday.
news.yahoo.comBiden administration looking for ways to pay Florida educators if DeSantis withholds their salaries over mask mandates
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said this week that the state might withhold school officials’ pay if they defy his ban and impose mask mandates. If that happens, the White House says it may find a way to pay them itself.
washingtonpost.com200+ Duval County students, faculty tested positive for COVID-19 during summer programs
Duval County students and staff taking part in summer activities were not spared the scourge of COVID-19, as more than 200 tested positive between June 3 and July 28, according to data provided by Duval County Public Schools (DCPS).
None of the Cuba protesters who closed Miami highway cited under GOP-backed anti-rioting law
Critics of the law questioned Ron DeSantis's political aims after the Republican governor said it didn't apply to the Cuban American protesters. Expats from the island are a major GOP voting bloc in South Florida.
washingtonpost.comAfter Surfside collapse, some said, ‘Not now.’ But Levine Cava knows she must be a leader | Opinion
On Day 1, when asked about accountability for the catastrophic Surfside condo collapse, too many elected officials at briefings — including Florida’s governor — initially responded with some version of the patronizing, “Now is not the time.”
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