Florida Department of Education Announces All 83 Local Education Agencies Have Certified Compliance with Federal Title VI Requirements
April 28, 2025
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Florida Department of Education Announces All 83 Local Education Agencies Have Certified Compliance with Federal Title VI Requirements
Tallahassee, Fla. April 28, 2025 –Today, the Florida Department of Education announced that all 83 Local Education Agencies have signed certifications that they are in compliance with antidiscrimination obligations as outlined in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. Additionally, Florida has transmitted all certifications for the school districts and the state certification to the U.S. Department of Education.
“Florida has led the nation in eliminating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and other discriminatory practices, policies and theories from our schools,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “Florida is the third largest state in the Union and we are proud to say that all of our schools districts are not only in compliance with Florida law, but have also voluntarily signed this certification that they are not violating the Title VI rights of our students and teachers.”
Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida has been a leader in ending policies that discriminate based on race, as well as those that encourage racial stereotyping amongst students. Through the Stop WOKE Act, signed in 2022, Governor DeSantis ended the teaching of divisive concepts that promote, advance, or compel individuals to believe in discriminatory concepts such as Critical Race Theory.
To further end discrimination in our education system, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 266 in 2023, which prohibits institutions from spending federal or state dollars on discriminatory initiatives such as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Senate Bill 266 also required colleges and universities to eliminate discriminatory general education core courses that are based on anti-American theories that teach systemic racism, sexism, oppression and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States.
The Florida State Board of Education followed that by passing a rule to permanently prohibit DEI programs, activities and policies in the Florida College System (FCS). Florida Colleges also completed a full review of their general education course lists and the State Board approved the courses submitted, representing a 57 percent decrease in the number of courses labeled as general education. The updated general education course list ensures that students attending our public state colleges are taking high-quality general education courses that provide foundational knowledge and prepare them for lifelong learning and success.
Most recently, the State Board of Education approved rule amendments to align with legislative changes in House Bill 1291 (2024), providing requirements and guidelines for the implementation and continued approval for teacher preparation and school leadership programs. Teacher preparation programs, educator preparation institutes and professional learning certification programs, courses, curriculum and instruction must not distort significant historical events and are prohibited from promoting identity politics or endorsing theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression and privilege are inherent and created to maintain social, political and economic inequities in the United States.
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