Richard Corcoran

The Hialeah Republican has served in the Florida Legislature since 2012.

DeSantis cites Diaz's efforts to help pass several education reforms since he became governor in 2019.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, the State Board of Education, the state Department of Education and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran are named as defendants, along with the school boards in Manatee, Sarasota, Miami-Dade, St. Johns and Jackson counties.

DeSantis said parents, not teachers, should be broaching subjects of sexual orientation and gender identity with their children.

The bill requires school districts to allow parents to have input in selecting library books and other instructional materials.

The program launched in 2017 and was initially set to expire in June 2020. After extending into this school year because of COVID-19 restrictions, the pilot program will receive another extension and continue next year.

He says the funds will help close achievement gaps and boost student resiliency, especially after pandemic slowdowns.

Governor Ron DeSantis said the change will allow teachers and parents to check in on students before the year is over.

Sen. Manny Diaz, a Miami Republican with strong charter school ties, has routinely been mentioned as a favorite to succeed Corcoran.

In a release, Corcoran said he is stepping down at the end of April to spend more time with his family.

The U.S. Department of Education dropped a cease-and-desist order after the state returned money it had been withholding from school districts that had since reversed their mask mandates.

Gov. DeSantis said he will introduce legislation called the Stop W.O.K.E. Act while calling critical race theory “corporate-sanctioned racism.”