Education Department files cease and desist complaint against Florida over mask-related school funding

news7g10/29/2021

1 1 minute read

Education Department files cease and desist complaint against Florida over mask-related school funding

The federal division alleged within the criticism filed with its Workplace of Administrative Legislation Judges that Florida’s Training Division “has unlawfully — and explicitly — lowered the quantity of state help offered to Florida college districts based on their receipt of federal funds. It has carried out in order a part of a broader effort to discourage these districts from implementing practices really helpful by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).”

Jared Ochs, a spokesperson for the Florida Division of Training, mentioned in an announcement to CNN that the federal authorities “is appearing unlawfully they usually have but to reply to the substance of our prior response,” referencing an October 13 letter from Florida’s schooling commissioner.

“We’ll proceed ahead combating for Florida college students’ entry to a free and public schooling,” Ochs added.

The US Division of Training particularly cites state funding being withheld from Alachua and Broward county college districts as a part of the criticism. These two districts have been amongst eight that the Florida Board of Education voted to sanction in early October for instituting Covid-19 masks mandates with out giving dad and mom the power to decide their college students out of the rule.

As a part of Thursday’s motion, federal officers are requesting a stop and desist order “to forestall the FLDOE from decreasing Florida state schooling help to native instructional businesses (LEAs) in direct response to the federal Mission to Assist America’s Households and Educators (Mission SAFE) program.”

“The U.S. Division of Training is firmly dedicated to making sure the protection and well-being of all college students. This motion taken by the Division comes after we made repeated requests to work collectively and defend college students, educators, and faculty communities. We imagine Florida’s actions have violated federal regulation by decreasing state funds primarily based on the receipt by districts of federal funds,” a US Division of Training spokesperson mentioned in an announcement.

The criticism additionally notified Florida’s Training Division that an administrative listening to concerning the stop and desist motion is scheduled for early December.

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