“Parents have a fundamental right to make decisions regarding the upbringing of their children, and schools should not be keeping important information from parents. Children belong to families, not the state,” said Senate President Wilton Simpson. “Parents are not the enemy, they are a child’s first and best advocate. This legislation strengthens the Parents’ Bill of Rights Act, safeguarding the rights and responsibilities of parents to decide how best to raise their children.”
“The government should never take the place of a parent,” said Speaker Chris Sprowls. “We’re taking a firm stand in Florida for parents when we say instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation does not belong in the classroom where 5- and 6-year-old children are learning. It should be up to the parent to decide if and when to introduce these sensitive topics. This shouldn’t be controversial, and a majority of Americans agree. Only fanatics think the classroom curriculum from kindergarten through 3rd grade should include teaching little children about gender identity.”
“This bill is about protecting our kids, empowering parents and ensuring they have the information they need to do their God-given job of raising their child,” said Representative Joe Harding.
“Today Governor DeSantis is ensuring Parental Rights are honored at our schools,” said Senator Dennis Baxley. “We are very grateful to have the greatest Governor in America who is unafraid to lead and protect Florida Families.”
“I want to thank Governor DeSantis who has been steadfast in his leadership and his unwavering support for parental rights in our great state,” said January Littlejohn, Parent, Leon County. “When parents are excluded from critical decisions affecting their child’s health and well being at school, it sends the message to children that their parent’s input and authority are no longer important.”
“You never know how you will feel or react to something until it affects you or your family or your children, personally,” said Erin Lovely, Parent, Palm Beach County. “Under this bill, it protects the fundamental rights of parents to make choices regarding the upbringing of their children and it prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in a second-grade classroom.”
HB 1557 takes three key steps to protect students and put power back in the hands of parents:
This bill prohibits classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in K-3 classrooms, and after 3rd grade, these conversations need to be age-appropriate.
The bill ensures that at the beginning of every school year, parents will be notified about healthcare services offered at the school, with the right to decline any service offered.
The bill ensures that whenever a questionnaire or health screening is given to K-3 students, parents receive it first and provide permission for the school to administer the questionnaire or health screening to their child.
Following the 2022 Legislative Session, the Governor has signed multiple pieces of legislation that support education and parent’s rights:
House Bill 1467, Curriculum Transparency
Senate Bill 1054, Financial Literacy Instruction in Public Schools
Senate Bill 1048, Student Assessments