ORLANDO, Fla. — Activists in Florida are calling for students to walk out of class in protest Friday afternoon. The call to action from organizers with Social Equity and Education Alliance, reference recent legislation moving through the Florida Capitol.
What You Need To Know
- HB 999 would defund Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs across state colleges and universities
- Its companion bill, SB 266, would ban state college core courses that theorize systematic racism is inherent in U.S. institutions
- At the K-12 level, SB 1320 would ban instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity through 8th grade. A ban is currently in place through 3rd grade.
Some students are expected to leave class at noon on Friday in a protest dubbed “Walkout 2 Learn.” Flyers posted to a web page for the protest, announce walkouts in Miami, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Sarasota.
This comes as several republican-backed education bills are working their way throughout the legislature.
HB 999 would ban state colleges or institutions from using taxpayer funds on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs unless the programs are required by federal law. The bill also bans general education core classes that “distort significant historical events, teach identity politics or violate the FEEA [Florida Educational Equity Act].”
Similarly, a companion bill in the Senate bans state college general education core classes that are “based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States.”
Meanwhile, the Florida Board of Education recently approved a ban on classroom instruction of gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-12, unless it’s required by state academic standards.
Senate Bill 1320 would solidify this as a law for students up to 8th grade.
Celeste Springer is the education beat reporter at Spectrum News 13. If you have a story idea or concern, you can email her at celeste.springer@charter.com.