July 14, 2025
Dear Florida Parents,
As Florida’s Commissioner of Education, and as a father myself to four beautiful daughters, I am deeply committed to creating safe, high-achieving schools where every child can succeed. I believe that the most powerful influence in a child’s life is the role of the parent. That’s why Governor Ron DeSantis has prioritized parental rights and signed House Bill 241 (2021) into law. Moreover, the Heritage Foundation ranked Florida #1 for Education Freedom for the third year in a row, and the Center for Education Reform ranked Florida #1 on the Parent Power Index for the fourth year in a row. Additionally, Florida ranked #1 on the EdChoice Friedman Index and ranked #2 for Education overall by U.S. News & World Report. As Commissioner, I will always continue to fight for and safeguard parental rights. You know your child best, and when parents are informed and included in the educational process, students succeed.
As we begin the 2025-2026 school year, I want to share how proud we are of Florida’s students, teachers and families. Because of your support and involvement, Florida continues to advance achievement and academic growth. These results aren’t just numbers; they represent real opportunities for our children.
At the heart of this success is you – the parent. You are your child’s first teacher, and your voice matters. Whether helping with homework, attending school events or making decisions about your child’s education, your participation is essential.
That’s why I want to take a moment to remind you of some of the rights you have as the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in a Florida public school. These rights aren’t just written into law – they’re rooted in the shared belief that families must be central to every meaningful decision in a child’s learning and development. When families and educators work together, there is no limit to what our students can achieve.
You have the right to expect instruction that:
Encourages individual responsibility, effort and merit.
Does not assign guilt or blame based on a student’s background or the way God created them.
Is objective and factual.
Aligns with Florida’s state academic standards and protects students from being made to feel inferior or uncomfortable because of their race, sex or religion.
Builds resiliency.
As your child progresses through his or her school day, below are some important areas we would like you to be aware of and request that any concerns you experience be reported to the Florida Department of Education.
Pursuant to Florida law, every Florida school must begin the day with a one-to-two-minute moment of silence. Students may use this time quietly and thoughtfully, and we encourage you to talk with your child about how they might use that time in a meaningful way.
You can also expect transparency in the instructional materials and training used in your child’s classroom. By focusing on core academic subjects and rejecting indoctrination in the classroom, Florida has become a standard-bearer for educational excellence.
Florida law requires schools to ensure that restrooms and changing areas are designated for exclusive use by boys or girls. Schools may also provide single-user or unisex options. These protections help maintain privacy, dignity and safety for all students.
Parents have a number of additional rights, as summarized below:
The right to direct your child’s education, upbringing, moral and religious training.
The right to choose the educational setting that is best for your child – public, private, religious or
home education.
The right to review your child’s school records at any time.
The right to make medical decisions for your child and access their medical records.
The right to give written consent before:
Your child’s biometric data (like fingerprints) is collected or stored.
Any DNA or blood samples are taken, unless required by law or court order.
Audio or video recordings of your child are made, with exceptions for school safety, instruction, activities or identification cards.
The right to be promptly notified if any government or school employee suspects a crime involving your child.
The right to be told if there is any change in your child’s physical, emotional or mental health support at school.
The right to receive notice of any health services offered and choose whether or not your child participates.
The right to transparency in instructional and library materials:
Elementary schools must post, in a searchable format on their websites, a list of all materials in school libraries and reading lists.
The Florida Department of Education must publish and regularly update a list of all materials removed or discontinued due to objections.
Each school board must have a process that allows parents and residents to object to specific instructional materials and ensures those objections are addressed and resolved.
The right to ensure classroom instruction and school practices align with state law:
Classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in grades prekindergarten through grade 8. If such instruction is provided in grades 9 through 12, it must be age appropriate or developmentally appropriate and consistent with state standards.
Public kindergarten through grade 12 employees and contractors must not be required to use preferred pronouns or titles that do not align with a person’s biological sex.
Students may not be asked to share their preferred pronouns or penalized for choosing not to.
The right to report a concern to your school principal and, if not resolved, escalate it to your district.
If still unresolved, request a neutral Special Magistrate to review the issue and recommend a resolution.
These apply to:
Student welfare concerns related to health, safety or well-being.
Instructional or library materials you believe are inappropriate.
Parent Resources:
We would like to share with you some resources that are available to you as parents on our Parental Rights page located at https://www.fldoe.org/ParentalRights/.
The Attorney General’s Office of Parental Rights, where a parent may file a complaint related to violations of the Parent’s Bill of Rights.
To file a complaint of educator misconduct, please contact the Office of Professional Practices Services at the Florida Department of Education by emailing ParentalRights@fldoe.org.
Florida law requires the implementation of a Special Magistrate process to support families by protecting parent’s rights and giving them additional assistance with certain disputes that are not timely or satisfactorily resolved by a Florida school district. The link above provides information for parents seeking appointment of a Special Magistrate to resolve certain disputes.
As we begin this school year together, know that we are here for you and respect your role as the parent in the educational process. We are cheering for your child, supporting your family, and committed to ensuring every classroom in Florida is a place where every student is challenged and inspired to achieve his or her full potential.
Thank you for the trust you place in us. Let’s make the 2025-2026 school year our best yet.
God bless,
Anastasios Kamoutsas
Commissioner of Education