A teacher’s license in this state can now be revoked for teaching “gender identity” to elementary school students. On Wednesday, the Florida Board of Education unanimously passed a series of new regulations, including one that would hold educators accountable for instructing students as young as 5 years old about gender identity or sexual orientation.
If a teacher violates Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’ Parental Rights in Education Law, which prohibits lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation from kindergarten through third grade, the teacher’s license could be suspended or revoked under the new policy. The law was signed into law in March of this year.
In addition, the board of directors voted to accept rules that will require schools to notify parents if a biological male will be utilizing women’s restrooms and locker rooms.
Tom Grady, the chair of the State Board of Education, was quoted in a news release as saying, “Today we gathered to protect the right of parents to raise their children however they see fit as the best way.” “The rules and changes that we passed will protect the safety of kids and ensure that Florida continues to deliver a high-quality education to each and every child in the state.”
According to the regulation, a teacher might face “revocation or suspension of the individual educator’s certificate, or the other penalties as authorized by law” if they “intentionally” teach students about their gender identity or sexual orientation before the fourth grade.
In addition, the board of directors adopted a rule that stipulates primary school libraries must make all of their reading resources, including reading lists organized by grade level, available to the general public.
According to the policy of the Board of Education, schools that permit access to bathrooms and locker rooms on any basis other than biological sex are required to post the policy on their website and notify parents via mail of which facilities the policy applies to. This requirement applies to schools that allow access to bathrooms and locker rooms on any basis other than biological.
In response to a request for comment made by the Daily Caller News Foundation, the Florida Board of Education did not immediately provide a response.
