Florida to Pay Parents of Children Who Experience “COVID Harassment” and Transfer Them to New Schools
Students return to school at Seminole Heights Elementary School after the Florida Department of Education mandated that all schools must have in-class learning during the week on August 31, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The Hillsborough County Schools District gives their students the in-class learning option amid the coronavirus pandemic. Octavio Jones/Getty Images

Florida announced that they will pay parents to allow the transfer of their children to other schools, particularly those who experienced "COVID harassment" over face mask requirements.

The new rule from the Florida Board of Education said parents may apply for a voucher to transfer their kids to a private school in situations that their children were under COVID harassment, according to The Daily Wire report.

Florida stated under the new rule that it will provide parents another means to protect the health and education of their children by moving them to another school.

State education and health officials had released a new ruling after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis released an executive order banning school districts from having mask mandates.

Transfer Vouchers

Florida parents can apply for a Hope Scholarship to transfer their kids to another school of their choice.

The state has defined COVID harassment widely as any threatening, discriminatory, insulting, or physical conduct in relation to school district protocols for COVID, including mask mandates, isolation of students, or COVID testing requirements, according to The Miami Herald report.

Dozens of parents voiced opposition to the voucher rule, while some supported it. These had shown the polarization around issuing mask-wearing and other COVID protocols in schools across the state.

One parent said that public health measures should not be considered harassment. Meanwhile, others claimed that no child should be "segregated" or discriminated against based on their health decisions.

Several Democratic state lawmakers and critics had raised questions and concerns on the rule's legal standing.

They had questioned whether the State Board of Education has the power to broaden the state law that covers the Hope scholarship program.

State Board of Education Vice Chair Ben Gibson argued that the department has that kind of authority as it expanded the definition of harassment under the law.

Meanwhile, Mark Richard, employment and education lawyer, noted that the rule is a "power grab."

The Florida Department of Education spokesman, Jared Ochs, said that the Hope Scholarship program currently has around $6.2 million readily available.

Mask Mandate in Florida

DeSantis' refusal to impose a mask order on Florida education institutions had drawn criticisms from U.S. President Joe Biden, which turned into an exchange of tirades.

The president had mentioned DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, pointing out their refusal to implement a mask mandate amid the uptick of COVID cases in their respective states.

Biden said that if they are not going to help at least get out of the way of those who are trying to, according to a Daily Mail report.

Abbott had also announced that there will be no face mask requirements for Texas school children.

DeSantis had responded to the president's statement, saying that Biden was trying to single out Florida and turn the attention away from the increase of migrants crossing the border.

The Florida governor said that until Biden does his job, he does not want to hear another blip" about the pandemic from him.

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

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