DeSantis’s Education Policies Take Effect, Removing Explicit Literature, Lesson Materials From Classrooms

What’s happening: Books in Florida public school districts must now be selected by a district employee who holds an “educational media specialist certificate” to ensure they do not contain pornography or other prohibited material. If a teacher or staff member breaks the law and provides these explicit materials in the classroom, they could be prosecuted for a third-degree felony.

Background: This newly enacted policy that holds schools and teachers responsible was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year. The legislation is part of DeSantis’s greater effort to rid Florida schools of inappropriate material and educational lessons that push left-wing ideology.

Controversy: DeSantis recently received backlash for Florida rejecting an Advanced Placement course on African-American studies, with critics calling the decision racist. But DeSantis revealed that the course material included controversial topics outside of African-American history such as “queer theory” and “abolishing prisons.”

What it all means: As DeSantis’s new policies take effect, teachers are being held responsible and school districts are taking additional measures to ensure students are reading age-appropriate material. Explicit and politically charged lesson materials are being stopped in their tracks before they make their way into schools.