The big story: Conservatives are again accusing Florida’s teacher unions of using students to promote a “woke” political agenda.
They’re pointing to a clip from a Feb. 5 Florida Education Association news conference calling on lawmakers to support public education to prove their point. The video segment they’re widely sharing shows student organizer Zander Moricz of Social Equity Through Education talking about how teens confronted by news of federal immigration enforcement are standing against “injustice” by organizing, including at school.
“That response, while framed by some politicians as radical, is reasonable. It’s rational. And, in a moment like this, it is required,” Moricz said.
Later in the speech, Moricz added that students must not disrupt campus or classes in their efforts. That context was not included in a clip circulated by national school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis, who first shared the video on social media 10 days after the speech.
DeAngelis latched onto the word “required” and suggested the “socialist” union is using children to advance its political agenda.
“The teachers union is the main enemy of education freedom, as this press conference video clearly shows,” DeAngelis said in an email to the Tampa Bay Times. He said the unions must be held accountable so Florida parents have access to “real school choice, so they can protect their children from left-wing indoctrination.”
His message quickly got picked up by Florida Republican leaders and officials, including education commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“It’s baffling how such a nefarious organization that commits fraud, files frivolous lawsuits and encourages chaos in schools, still remains in existence,” Kamoutsas wrote on X.
Two state lawmakers who are pushing bills to add new restrictions to public sector union activities — Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka and Sen. Jonathan Martin, both Lee County Republicans — shared the commissioner’s post in part to breathe life into their stalled legislation.
“Teacher’s unions have intentionally delayed providing salary increases to teachers, engaged in questionable financial practices, and are now encouraging students to walk out of class in protest,” Martin wrote. “This situation underscores exactly why Senate Bill 1296 is so important.”
Moricz could not be reached for comment. Florida Education Association president Andrew Spar fired back on social media and in interviews that the scenario has been miscast.
Yes, Spar said, Moricz was invited to speak as a supporter of public education. But the union did not tell him what to say, and “we do not censor.”
“FEA has never and will never tell our members or students that they should walk out of class,” Spar said, adding that the union supports initiatives to keep children in strong public schools despite the “politics attempting to undermine our schools.”
In related news … Hundreds of students from at least four Palm Beach County schools walked out of school Monday to participate in a protest rally at Lake Worth Beach City Hall, WPEC reports. • Several Brevard County students protested on their day off from school after being threatened with suspension if they walked out of classes, Florida Today reports.
USF leadership: Moez Limayem, the newly installed president at the University of South Florida, offered his views on student rights, faculty retention, AI and other issues in an interview with Times reporter Lucy Marques. • The House Budget Committee advanced legislation that would hand the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College of Florida, despite objections by some lawmakers that the move is not fiscally sound, WUSF reports.
School grades: Florida’s school grading system often ignores problems among subgroups if the overall student body performs well, TC Palm reports.
School choice: A growing number of Florida students are choosing nontraditional school models, including outdoor learning cooperatives, WUFT reports.
ROTC funding: Florida Institute of Technology has landed on the Department of Defense’s list of “moderate to high risk schools” that could lose some federal funding, Space Coast Rocket reports.
College costs: The Florida Prepaid College Program has opened a new application window. Families say the investment has taken the pressure off paying for their children’s education, WFTS reports.
From the police blotter … A Polk County teacher was arrested on accusations of setting fire in his yard, which grew to fire acres, WKMG reports. • A Miami-Dade County high school band teacher was arrested on allegations of inappropriate relationships with students, WTVJ reports. • Six Sarasota County students were arrested after a violent incident at their high school, WWSB reports.
From the court docket … The IMG Academy in Bradenton will pay $1.7 million to settle a lawsuit after allowing two students connected to a Mexican drug cartel to attend the school, the Bradenton Herald reports.
Today in Tallahassee … The House Education and Employment Committee meets at 8:30 a.m. with 11 bills on its agenda including HB 371 on patriotic displays, HB 1437 on conversion charter schools and HB 731 on extracurricular activities. • The Senate Rules Committee meets at noon with several bills in consideration including SB 1036 on school counselors, SB 824 on unimproved school property and SB 446 on high school diplomas. • The full House convenes at 1 p.m. with HB 409 on Veterans Day observance and HB 1073 on school board rights available on special order.
Florida lawmakers have proposed an amendment to the state constitution that would protect religious expression in public schools. Which is not one of the proposed protections in the measure?
a) Students may expression of religious beliefs in school assignments
b) Teachers may lead religious activities during classes
c) Schools must require a moment of silence daily during first period
Find out the answer from WUFT.
Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup.
Jeffrey S. Solochek is a reporter covering education as a members of the Tampa Bay Times Education Hub. You can contribute to the hub through our journalism fund by clicking here.