Gov. DeSantis signs ‘curriculum transparency’ bill in Daytona Beach

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis stopped in Daytona Beach on Friday to sign a bill for “curriculum transparency” in Florida schools.

The governor’s office said the bill requires school districts to have procedures in place that allow parents to see all books in the school library, all required classroom book lists, and any instructional material a teacher intends to use.

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The bill also provides parents the opportunity to review all instructional material and object to materials they do not believe their children should utilize.

The governor’s office said the bill ensures the school curriculum and teachers’ professional development align with required instruction and state standards, including no teaching of critical race theory or the Common Core.

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Critics of the bill worry about the consequences this bill could have on a child’s ability to access books.

While advocates say it gives more power to parents to decide what’s appropriate for their child, others feel this is nothing more than an excuse to ban material people may not like.

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“We believe parents not only have a role — they have a fundamental role to be involved in the education of their kids and that’s how it’s going to be in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said.

Flagler County recently revised its school media policy after people objected to the book “All Boys are Not Blue” — George M. Johnson’s memoir about growing up Black and queer — being in its school libraries.

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Flagler County School Board Member Colleen Conklin said she worries the bill could lead to one of the largest book bans in the country. She said no one wants people to be exposed to inappropriate material, but there is a process to go through and material cannot be removed just because people are uncomfortable with it.

The bill would also limit school board members to not serving beyond 12 consecutive years.

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The bill takes effect July 1.

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Cox Media Group