Title IX is part of the Educational Amendments of 1972. The language of Title IX protects students from discrimination on the basis of their sex in educational programs. It applies to public schools and also to colleges across the country. Title IX helps ensure that female students theoretically have the same rights and protections as male students. One of the more common reasons that college and university students end up making Title IX claims against educational institutions is sexual assault on campus. Schools generally do a very poor job of protecting female students from sexual violence ..read more

The clash between parents’ rights and school board decisions has become a pressing issue in recent years, sparking intense debates across communities. The crux of this tension is rooted in the concern that because parents are the basic educators of their children, they should, therefore, have a say in what they are taught in school. This is because educational material can affect their children’s moral upbringing and beliefs. Parents’ rights vs. School boards’ responsibilities Parents’ rights encompass the fundamental role parents play in shaping their children’s education. This includes the r ..read more

Students bullying each other has been an issue for as long as there have been large-scale educational facilities. Bullying can start as early as preschool or kindergarten, but it often begins in earnest during middle school and high school. Technically, Florida has a statute on the books prohibiting bullying. Educational institutions should employ a zero-tolerance approach to scenarios in which some students make others feel unwelcome or attacked while attending class. Despite the laws that the Sunshine State has implemented, bullying remains a relatively significant issue for high school stud ..read more

Students with disabilities have a right to no-cost and appropriate public education under the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in Florida and other states. Section 504 of this act prohibits schools from discriminating against children who have disabilities. The following summarizes some key points of Section 504 for special needs students. Defining disabilities Section 504 states that a person with disabilities has a physical or mental impairment that creates substantial limits in one or more of the child’s major life activities. These activities include learning, performing tasks and caring ..read more

School librarians and media specialists in Florida are currently undergoing training to help them determine what kinds of books and materials are suitable for children. The training is mandated under the provisions of Florida House Bill 1467, which was passed by the state legislature in July 2022 and went into effect on Jan. 1. The bill, which has drawn both praise and condemnation, was introduced as part of the “Year of the Parent” initiative launched by Gov. Ron DeSantis in response to criticism of school curriculums. House Bill 1467 The goal of HB 1467 is to ensure that schoolchildren in Fl ..read more

While investigating schools, you and your spouse are on a mission to find one that would be the best fit for your autistic child. A triangulation involving the school’s facilities, educational programs and teachers must align. Each school relies on different approaches toward exceptional student education (ESE). And, along the way, you will discover that some school districts have poor track records in educating autistic children. Some programs may be distressingly out-of-date, while some teachers lack insufficient training. Case of an inexperienced teacher Consider the current trial of a UK t ..read more

Bullying has become a pressing issue in schools across the United States. Students who are bullied tend to suffer academically, socially and emotionally. In some cases, bullying has led to tragic consequences, including suicide. The good news is that there are steps that you can take to prevent bullying in your school. Encourage students to report bullying behavior Usually, students who are being bullied are hesitant to tell adults about what is happening for fear of retaliation from the bully or because they feel ashamed. It is important to let your students know that you take bullying seriou ..read more

The Florida Department of Education recently advised textbook publishers to avoid including critical race theory (CRT) and other social justice issues that the state deems inconsistent with its beliefs. As the guidance extends to all types of textbooks, including those for math, science and other subjects not related to social studies, the move begs the question of whether teachers may be prosecuted for even mentioning CRT in their classrooms. Scores of impermissible books Flordia has already received copious amounts of attention for rejecting cores of books that it says are impermissible acco ..read more

Citing the increased costs of Florida’s online education program, Florida State Rep. Randy Fine has called for an overhaul. As the chairman of the House PreK-12 Appropriations subcommittee, he introduced HB5101 to revamp and improve Florida’s virtual education program. Despite strong opposition by some educators, HB5101 passed. Solving one problem and creating another School districts in Florida must provide, by law, options in virtual education for students. Due to the dearth of teachers, many school districts have outsourced the online instruction of their courses to Florida Virtual School ..read more

Public education gives you and your family certain rights that school districts must follow. However, some parents may become confused about what rights their child has as a public school student in Florida. Here is what you can expect when your children attend a public school district. Public school rights can differ from private school policies Education law allows private schools to set their own policies regarding what is taught in their classrooms along with other policies. For example, private schools may teach creationism while public schools cannot. While private and parochial schools ..read more