FDOE Press Conference and Statewide Action

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran continue to push for brick and mortar opening of schools in Florida and make financial threats to withhold public tax dollars from local school boards for education despite the following:

1) Florida has lost over 9000 residents to COVID-19 since March 2020, 2) in the last two weeks Florida has had a positivity rate between 13.49% and 9.17% for those tested, 3) over 32,000 teachers stand in opposition to Commissioner Corcoran's executive order forcing brick and mortar opening in August, 4) counties with the largest populations in the state are asking for local rule on how and when schools re-open, 5) Florida Education Association filed a lawsuit seeking a temporary injunction to keep the state from forcing brick and mortar schools to reopen in August.

Forced brick and mortar opening must be stopped. Going to school and work should NOT be a death sentence.

As a network of organizations, policymakers, and leaders across the state, Florida COVID Action Network is hosting this press conference in conjunction with solidarity rallies across the state to tell Governor DeSantis and Commissioner Corcoran that we want a safe return to schools and demand local elected school boards have the authority to decide when and how to protect our students, school staff, and vulnerable community members.