HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Department of Education reached out to several school districts, including Hillsborough County, for not complying with new state laws.
The state alerted Hillsborough County it needs to make changes to comply with the "Parental Rights in Education" law. It's the same law that some critics have referred to as the "don't say gay" law.
The law bars educators from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity to students in kindergarten through third grade. School districts may opt to ban those topics beyond third grade if leaders deem them not to be age or developmentally appropriate.
Hillsborough County board members met on Tuesday night to talk about what they need to do to comply with state laws.
Hillsborough County Superintendent Addison Davis said the State Department of Education was in touch with Hillsborough district leaders before the meeting.
"They’re pleased with the progress we’re making, but we just have to work as quickly as we can to be in compliance," Davis said.
Last week, the Hillsborough school board got a letter from the state alerting them that Hillsborough County leaders need to address two policies.
"After initial review of the policies and procedures submitted by Hillsborough County Schools, it appears that some of these policies or procedures may have not yet been updated to comply with revised Florida law and State Board of Education rule," the letter reads.
One involves its racial equity policy and the other is the district’s LGBTQ+ critical resource and support guide for staff.
The racial equity policy confronts institutional racism. The district’s LGBTQ+ critical resource and support guide for staff outline restrooms, sex-segregated facilities gender pronouns and coming out.
The state explained both needs to be updated to comply with state laws.
Some board members expressed hiring more legal counsel would help the board assure they are complying with laws. Another board member said it doesn’t matter the legal advice they seek — the state isn’t being clear.
"It isn’t that our staff is confused by legal advice, it’s that the information that we are getting from the state isn’t clear and isn’t providing that guidance," Hillsborough School board member Jessica Vaughn said.
To be clear and compliant, school board members agreed to have a workshop on Jan. 17. There, they will discuss how to comply with state laws.