Florida To Revoke Licenses Of K-3 Teachers Who Discuss Gender Identity, Sexuality

The Florida Department of Education is planning to revoke or suspend the teaching licenses of K-3 teachers who discuss gender identity or sexuality with their students, according to the Washington Post, citing a new rule published by the department.

The rule, proposed in September by Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., would enforce a 2021 state law that prohibits instruction on gender identity and sexuality for children in kindergarten through third grade – the Parental Rights in Education Act, colloquially known by opponents as the “don’t say gay” law.

According to the rule, any teacher who “intentionally provide[s] classroom instruction” to K-3 students on those topics will face “revocation or suspension of the individual educator’s certificate, or the other penalties as provided by law.”

The Dept. of Education rule was published as Hurricane Ian hit, and was first reported last Tuesday by the Progress Report.

A spokesman for the department said on Thursday evening that “it should not be surprising that educators are at risk of having their certificates sanctioned if they violate state law. The proposed amendment will change nothing for teachers who follow the law and are focused on providing high-quality classroom instruction aligned to state academic standards.”