Governor Ron DeSantis announced Florida schools will remain open for in-person learning but continue to offer online options to parents with new regulations. School funding will also be protected regardless of decreased enrollment into the new year.
At Boggy Creek Elementary yesterday, DeSantis and the Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran announced all schools can continue the spring semester to function the same way as the fall semester. Fiscal stability was their number one priority enforcing the Care Act and giving schools full funding.
“Funding provided to school districts and charter schools with an approved Spring 2021 Education Plan is designed to continue the financial continuity provided in DOE Order No. 2020-EO-06, with modifications to ensure districts with increased full-time equivalent (FTE) students following surveys 3 and 4 as set forth in Rule 6A-1.0451, Florida Administrative Code, are funded for that increase,” the department of education emergency order number 2020-EO-07.
Schools will also receive additional funding for growth seen through student enrollment. For an increase in enrollment at school, that school receives adequately funded for the amount of new students they bring in.
Under the new conditions, schools will mail home notices to parents with students who are learning virtually if their child is not making adequate progress. Parents then have the option to send their kids back to school or continue to learn at home.
“Closing schools due to coronavirus is probably the biggest public health blunder in modern American history,” DeSantis said.