Florida’s Board of Education has implemented a new rule that bans public colleges in the state from using state and federal funds for any diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, activities, and policies. The rule will apply to the 28 schools within the Florida College System, including Seminole State College of Florida, Valencia College, and Florida State College at Jacksonville – schools that are currently serving major Black and Latino populations.
The board explained that ensuring taxpayer funds cannot be used to promote DEI on Florida’s state college campuses was the purpose of the new rule. In a statement, Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. supported the move, saying that higher education must reject destructive ideologies and radical indoctrination that promote division in society.
However, Civil rights advocate and attorney Ben Crump criticized the new rule and condemned censorship in Florida. He expressed disbelief at the decision and wrote on social media, “We continue to go down a misguided path of censorship in Florida!”
In addition, the board revealed that the course “Principles of Sociology” will be replaced with a general education American history course. The board cited concerns that Principles of Sociology exposed students to radical woke ideologies. The new curriculum will apply to all state colleges in Florida.
This new rule on public college funding for DEI programs is not Florida’s first. In May 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation to create related restrictions in higher education. These bills prohibited state colleges and universities from using public funds to promote activism or advocacy for DEI efforts. The legislation also dictated the ways race and gender were to be taught in classrooms while emphasizing the study of Western civilization.
This new rule is expanding on the previous legislation done by Gov. DeSantis. Supporters claim that it will cut down on funding for critical race theory – the idea that racism is not only personal prejudice but needs to be analyzed through societal and structural patterns of discrimination. Meanwhile, opponents argue that these efforts distract from addressing systemic racism and that policymakers should instead focus on implementing policies that can access equity for all Floridians.