Florida Senate passes bill that would ban teaching Critical Race Theory in public schools

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Senate has passed the Individual Freedom Act on Thursday.

This is the bill that does away with teaching Critical Race Theory in public schools.

The Senate passed the legislation on a 24-15 vote.

It now heads to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.

Florida House Rep. Angie Nixon, who represents Jacksonville, shared the following statement on the bill’s passage by the Senate, referring to it as the “Don’t Say Race” bill:

“Schools are a place where children from different places and races learn from the past, make sense of the present and prepare for the future. While teachers work hard to deliver our children an accurate and honest education, some politicians are trying to turn us against schools so they can distract from denying certain children resources while they write people who look like them out of our history books.

“First it was ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ now it’s ‘Don’t Say Race.’ No one is safe from the Republican censorship campaign that’s infecting our schools and workplaces. DeSantis ‘Stop Learning Act’ not only ensures that the worst parts of our history are banned from discussion, but it repeats the worst parts of that same history.

“Our children deserve the freedom to learn: to develop the knowledge and skills to reckon with our past, shape a better future, and pursue their dreams. By joining together and speaking up at school board meetings, contacting our elected leaders, and voting to fully fund our schools, we can make this a country where every child has the freedom to learn, grow and thrive.”

RELATED COVERAGE:

Debate over critical race theory ban centers around objective teaching of history

Critical race theory ban moves forward in Florida chambers

Critical Race Theory concerns cited for cancelation of Flagler professor’s teacher training seminar

READ THE FULL BILL BELOW:

Individual Freedom Act passed by Florida Senate by ActionNewsJax on Scribd