Stop WOKE Act

It puts restrictions on how race and sexism can be addressed in public school classrooms and workplaces. The businesses say it violates their free speech rights.

Kathleen Passidomo and Paul Renner made their comments as the Republican Party of Florida opened its Sunshine Summit.

The group held its first national summit July 15-17 in Tampa, where members were trained by the conservative Leadership Institute in how to challenge bureaucracies and run for office.

Protesters criticized the group's support of new state laws to limit instruction on racism and gender identity in schools. They also spoke out about Florida's 15-week abortion ban.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed bills that limit how race and sexual orientation can be taught. He says students have been getting a "distorted" view of history.

A new school year is just weeks away and Florida is missing thousands of teachers. Plus, new laws have changed what some teachers can teach, and how they teach.

The plaintiffs say the law, dubbed the "Stop WOKE Act," violates First Amendment rights and is unconstitutionally vague.

A federal judge Monday rejected arguments by attorneys for teachers, a student and a diversity consultant that he should block a controversial new state law that restricts the way race-related concepts can be taught in classrooms and workplace training.

With Thursday marking 50 years since the federal law known as Title IX was enacted to bar sex-based discrimination in educational institutions, a new Florida law is set to change the way schools can train employees to comply with Title IX.

He said he had “grave concerns” about the plaintiffs’ legal standing to pursue blocking the law.

After rejecting math textbooks, state criteria now draw the line on what can be included in social studies materials.

Districts across Tampa Bay are waiting for publishers to navigate the appeals process so they can place book orders as soon as possible.