Contract With Florida Department Of Education Opposed

A unanimous vote by a neighborhood council urges city to investigate if deal signed by LAUSD violates the civil rights of Los Angeles students.

“The NENC opposes the $6 million contract signed between the LAUSD and the Florida Virtual School, an entity controlled by the Florida Department of Education.”

- Northridge East Neighborhood Council

Photo by Nikolas Gannon on Unsplash

Even before the State of Florida passed the “Stop WOKE” and “Don’t Say Gay” laws, the California State Attorney General (AG) prohibited state-funded and state-sponsored travel to the Sunshine State. This ban was required under AB 1887 which was passed in an effort “to avoid supporting or financing discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.”

The Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) Board did not share the state of California’s concerns when it approved a contract with the Florida Virtual School, an entity controlled by the Florida Department of Education. Despite clear evidence that LGBTQ+ students, teachers, and families are being discriminated against by authoritarian-leaning governor, Ron DeSantis, Los Angeles will inject $6 million into the Florida education system. In doing so the LAUSD appears to be supporting and financing discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.

At the recommendation of its Education Committee, the Northridge East Neighborhood Council (NENC) considered the following motion that I moved during a meeting last Wednesday:

The NENC expresses concern about the contract signed between the LAUSD and the Florida Virtual School, an entity controlled by the Florida Department of Education. We urge the City of Los Angeles to investigate and scrutinize the origins of this contract, the way in which the Florida Department of Education was selected, and the process followed for the approval of the contract. Further, it should be evaluated whether this contract meets the educational standards of the State of California and if it violates the civil rights of Los Angeles…