All Public School Classrooms in Louisiana Are Now Required to Display the Ten Commandments
The law went into effect this week and applies to all public K-12 schools as well as private schools that receive government funding.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed a new law this week requiring all public and state-funded schools to prominently display the “Ten Commandments,” making Louisiana the first U.S. state to implement such a policy.
Landry, a Republican, signed House Bill 71 into law on Wednesday, following its approval in the House by a 79-16 vote late last month. The law, which takes effect immediately, mandates that all public schools and private educational institutions receiving government funding display the Ten Commandments in every classroom and office building. The law specifies the language to be used for each commandment, requires the displays to be at least 11 by 14 inches in size, and ensures the text is the “central focus of the poster” and “printed in a large, easily readable font.” (Perhaps they’ll make an exception for Papyrus.)
Louisiana is now the only U.S. state requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments. However, since 2001, Mississippi has mandated state schools to post the motto “In God We Trust,” a requirement Louisiana matched last year.
HB 71 was authored by GOP Rep. Dodie Horton, who has been in office since 2015. Horton is also the chief sponsor of HB 122, which recently passed both chambers of the state legislature and awaits Governor Landry’s signature. This bill would prohibit K-12 teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender with students under most circumstances, an effort Horton first attempted unsuccessfully in 2022.
During the debate on HB 71 in April, Horton expressed her intent to integrate more conservative Christian principles into state law, as reported by the Times-Picayune.
“I’m not concerned with an atheist. I’m not concerned with a Muslim,” Horton said, referring to non-Christian teachers. “I’m concerned with our children looking and seeing what God’s law is.”
However, Horton’s rhetoric contrasts with other Republicans, such as Sen. J. Adam Bass, who argued that the bill’s purpose was “not solely religious.” According to the Times-Picayune, Bass maintained that the commandments hold “historical significance” to the U.S. as “one of many documents that display the history of our country and foundation of our legal system.”
On Wednesday, the same day Landry signed HB 71 into law, representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation announced their intention to challenge the law in a joint statement.
“The displays mandated by HB 71 will result in unconstitutional religious coercion of students, who are legally required to attend school and are thus a captive audience for school-sponsored religious messages,” the groups wrote. “Even among those who may believe in some version of the Ten Commandments, the particular text that they adhere to can differ by religious denomination or tradition. The government should not be taking sides in this theological debate, and it certainly should not be coercing students to submit day in and day out to unavoidable promotions of religious doctrine.”
Utah’s Anti-Trans Bathroom Snitch Line Got 12,000 Tips. None Could Be Verified
Six Weeks After Launch, Utah’s Anti-Trans Bathroom Tip Line Received 12,000 Reports, None Verified
Six weeks after Utah Republicans introduced a public “snitch form” to report transgender individuals using bathrooms in government facilities, the state auditor’s office has received over 12,000 reports—none of which could be verified.
The tip line was established following the passage of HB 257, sponsored by second-term GOP Rep. Kera Birkeland. The law mandates that all government bathrooms and locker rooms be designated based on a person’s assigned sex at birth. It also requires government institutions to create their own “privacy compliance plan” in accordance with the law. Violations are classified as criminal trespass offenses, a class A misdemeanor in Utah.
However, shortly after the form went live in early May, it was inundated with spam, including numerous memes and at least one picture of bull testicles.
Since its launch, the form has received more than 12,000 submissions, Utah Auditor John Dougall confirmed to the Salt Lake Tribune this week. Just five of those were deemed “plausible,” Dougall said, but his office was “unable to substantiate” any of them. In essence, the tip line has produced no verifiable cases.
The closest Dougall reportedly came to finding a case to pursue was from a report against the state Department of Corrections, which did not come through the online form. According to the Tribune, Dougall’s office received a letter earlier this month alleging that an employee in the administrative offices allowed an individual to use a sex-designated restroom that did not align with their sex. However, Dougall confirmed he was unable to substantiate the complaint.
Dougall also noted that he has instructed state agencies to adopt “privacy compliance plans,” but there has been significant confusion about how to implement these plans. According to a statement from Dougall’s office to the Tribune, “there is a lack of clarity regarding which entity has the duty to adopt a privacy compliance plan in situations when multiple entities either share use or control of facilities for which a plan is required.” Essentially, the overlapping jurisdiction of government facilities complicates the establishment and oversight of these policies.
In summary, Utah Republicans have likely invested hundreds of work hours and significant taxpayer dollars on a tip line that, in a month and a half, has primarily been used for trolling. Utah Auditor John Dougall has been particularly critical of this debacle. He has released multiple videos on social media mocking his new role as a government “bathroom monitor” and criticizing Rep. Kera Birkeland and other legislators for enacting HB 257.
“It seems like this part of the bill was more about show than substance,” remarked John Dougall in a video filmed in a public bathroom and released in mid-May. “But it wouldn’t be the first time the legislature did something like that, would it?”
Supreme Court to rule on states’ ability to limit gender-affirming care for minors
CNN – The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear the Biden administration’s challenge to Tennessee’s transgender care ban, addressing the contentious issue of gender-affirming care in depth for the first time.
The Tennessee law, enacted last year, prohibits hormone therapy and puberty blockers for minors and imposes civil penalties on doctors who violate these prohibitions. This law is part of a growing trend of state legislation targeting transgender care.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, nearly half of U.S. states have enacted bans on transgender care for minors.
The case is scheduled to be heard this fall.
“The Supreme Court was always going to have to resolve how state bans on gender-affirming medical care can be reconciled with its approach to sex-based discrimination,” said Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at the University of Texas School of Law. “Today’s grant sets up this issue as one of the early blockbusters for the Court’s upcoming term.”
Laws in Kentucky and Tennessee were challenged by the Biden administration and families of transgender minors. However, the Supreme Court only agreed to hear the Biden administration’s challenge against the Tennessee law.
In September, the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati reversed a district court ruling that had blocked the enforcement of the gender-affirming care ban. This decision allowed the ban to take effect.
Republican lawmakers supporting the ban argue that decisions about gender-affirming care should be made once an individual reaches adulthood. Opponents contend that these laws not only violate the civil rights of transgender youth but also infringe on parents’ rights to make medical decisions for their children.
Tennessee’s law prohibits medical providers from performing procedures that “enable a minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor’s sex” or “treat purported discomfort or distress from a discordance between the minor’s sex and asserted identity.”
Legal battles over similar bans have been progressing through federal courts for over a year. In April, the Supreme Court temporarily allowed Idaho officials to enforce a strict statewide ban on gender-affirming care for most minors, though it did not resolve the underlying legal questions.
Several advocacy groups for transgender youth have urged the Supreme Court to strike down Tennessee’s law.
“It’s simple: Everyone deserves access to the medical care that they need, and transgender and non-binary young people are no exception,” said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “No politician should be able to interfere in decisions that are best made between families and doctors, particularly when that care is necessary and best practice.”
Lucas Cameron-Vaughn, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, criticized state lawmakers for using the bans to “fuel divisions for their own political gain.”
“It’s crucial to recognize that for trans youth and their families, this isn’t about politics,” Cameron-Vaughn said. “It’s about the fundamental freedom to access vital, life-saving healthcare.”
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, a Republican, expressed his eagerness to defend the law.
“This case will bring much-needed clarity to whether the Constitution contains special protections for gender identity,” he said.
On X, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick directly called out Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan for killing the bill “by letting it languish in committee for a month.”
AUSTIN, Texas — Following reports that Louisiana might become the first state to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick criticized Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan for allowing similar legislation to stall in committee.
On Thursday, Lt. Governor Patrick made multiple posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, calling out House Speaker Phelan.
“Texas WOULD have been and SHOULD have been the first state in the nation to put the 10 Commandments back in our schools,” Patrick said in a post on X. “But, SPEAKER Dade Phelan killed the bill by letting it languish in committee for a month assuring it would never have time for a vote on the floor.”
Senate Bill 1515, which failed to advance from committee in the last legislative session, aimed to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in Texas public elementary and secondary school classrooms.
In his post, Patrick pledged to reintroduce the bill in the Senate during the next session.
In another X post, the lieutenant governor persisted in attributing the demise of Senate Bill 1396, which proposed a “period of prayer and Bible reading” in Texas public schools, to House Speaker Phelan.
Paxton blocks Biden’s Title IX rule protecting LGBTQ+ students in Texas
FILE – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference in Dallas on June 22, 2017. Paxton says he’s investigating a key Boeing supplier that is already under scrutiny by federal regulators over the quality of its work on Boeing planes, Friday, March 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has blocked the Biden Administration’s Title IX rule aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ students from sex-based discrimination and harassment, according to a Tuesday release from Paxton’s office.
The rule was designed to protect all students and employees from sex discrimination, including providing comprehensive protections against sexual violence and other forms of sex-based harassment.
In the release, Paxton claimed a “major” victory against the Biden Administration’s Department of Education’s attempt to amend Title IX, alleging it would force Texas schools to adopt radical “transgender” policies that violate state and federal law.
“Joe Biden’s unlawful effort to weaponize Title IX for his extremist agenda has been stopped in its tracks,” Paxton stated. “Threatening to withhold education funding by forcing states to accept ‘transgender’ policies that put women in danger was plainly illegal. Texas has prevailed on behalf of the entire Nation.”
The Biden Administration’s changes to Title IX are scheduled to take effect nationwide on Aug. 1, except in states where it has been blocked.
Democrats warn that Texas could forfeit billions in federal funds due to Abbott’s LGBTQ directive.
Texas colleges and universities face the imminent risk of losing billions in federal funding if they adhere to Governor Greg Abbott’s directive to disregard a new federal rule strengthening nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ students, according to Democrats who addressed a state education board on Monday.
In a letter of congressional inquiry to Texas’s Higher Education Coordinating Board, which oversees public post-secondary education, four House Democrats from Texas cautioned that public colleges could jeopardize students’ civil rights and forfeit government funding by following Abbott’s orders to ignore amendments to Title IX. This federal civil rights law prohibits sex discrimination in schools and educational programs receiving federal funding and was updated by the Education Department in April to include protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The rule, set to take effect on August 1, has faced temporary injunctions in ten states led by Republicans, including Texas, where Abbott labeled the changes as “illegal” in an April letter to President Biden.
Led by Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) and signed by Democratic Reps. Sylvia Garcia, Al Green, and Sheila Jackson Lee, the letter accused Abbott and other officials of using educational institutions as “political pawns.”
“If Texas educational institutions fail to adjust their policies in accordance with the forthcoming Title IX revisions, the consequences would be devastating,” the lawmakers wrote. “Losing billions of dollars of federal funding would prevent institutions from offering scholarships crucial for students to afford and access higher education. Hundreds of thousands of potential Texas students would face a threat to their educational opportunities.”
Democrats argued that failure to comply with the Biden administration’s rule, which also strengthens protections for pregnant students and changes how schools handle sexual misconduct claims, could undermine students’ civil rights. They referenced a recent lawsuit by University of Texas at Austin professors challenging provisions allowing student absences for out-of-state abortions and mandating respect for transgender and gender-nonconforming students’ pronouns.
“A federal judge recently sided with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) by blocking similar changes proposed by the Biden administration last year,” the letter noted. Despite Title IX being a federal law, enforcement methods vary by administration, impacting schools that receive federal funding.
Efforts by House and Senate Republicans to challenge the rule through disapproval resolutions and lawsuits in numerous Republican-led states remain ongoing, reflecting broader opposition to the Biden administration’s regulatory changes.
Wondering how white-label link building can boost your SEO? Discover its benefits and learn how to find the right partner today.
White-label link building can revolutionize your SEO strategy by allowing you to concentrate on other vital aspects of your digital marketing efforts or manage an SEO agency more effectively.
How does it work?
By outsourcing your link building to a professional team, you maintain full control while delegating the work to experts.
Sounds straightforward, right?
Specialized agencies manage the entire backlink creation process for your brand, often including the development of content and linkable assets.
Why is this significant?
Choosing the right white-label link building agency is crucial. An experienced team can deliver impressive results without compromising your brand integrity.
In this article, you’ll discover:
How to intelligently select the best white-label link building services.
The mechanics of how it works.
Key factors to consider when choosing a service provider.
What are white-label link building services?
White-label link building services involve a specialized agency creating backlinks on behalf of another agency. The primary agency then presents these links to their clients as their own work.
These services are crucial for SEO campaigns but require specialized skills that many digital marketing and SEO agencies may not possess.
This is where white-label services become invaluable.
Who benefits from white-label link building?
SEO agencies without a dedicated link building team: These agencies need to deliver high-quality links but lack the internal resources to do so.
Independent SEO experts: They may need to scale their efforts without having the time or manpower to manage link building themselves.
White-label link building services encompass everything from guest posting to securing high authority backlinks. These are links from websites that have demonstrated credibility and trustworthiness and are typically rewarded with organic visibility by search engines. The main goal is to enhance a client’s search engine rankings through effective strategies.
Here’s why you might consider white-label tactics:
Client demands for high-quality links: Your team may lack the necessary expertise.
Overwhelmed in-house team: Your current team might be swamped with requests.
Cost-effective service offering: You want to provide link building services without the overhead of hiring a full team.
Preliminary testing: You want to test the effectiveness of these services before committing to building an in-house team.
Professional white-label services give you access to experts who know how to build effective links quickly and efficiently.
How white-label link building works
The white-label method involves a specialized agency managing the entire process of acquiring backlinks on behalf of another agency. This enables the primary agency to offer comprehensive link building services to its clients without the need to develop an in-house team.
Here’s how a professional white-label link building team operates:
Step 1: Understanding Client Needs
The process begins with understanding a client’s product, service, and goals. The primary agency provides this information to the white-label partner, outlining the target landing pages and desired outcomes.
Step 2: Identifying Relevant Opportunities
The white-label agency identifies the most suitable websites, focusing on those that align with the client’s goals and industry to ensure the links are relevant.
Step 3: Creating Content and Outreach
The agency then creates high-quality content, which can include guest posts, linkable assets, or other types of content. They contact publishers to secure placements, ensuring the content is published on authoritative sites—those that are helpful, useful, and trusted by other websites, people, and search engines.
Step 4: Reporting and Analytics
Once the links are placed, the agency provides detailed reports and analytics. The primary agency can then present these results to their clients under their own branding, maintaining full transparency and control.
Why hire a white-label link building agency?
Here are just a few advantages of hiring a professional white-label link building agency:
Expertise: These agencies employ experienced outreach specialists who understand the intricacies of obtaining effective links. Their expertise ensures high-quality results tailored to the needs of various industries.
Connections: Professional agencies have established relationships with trusted publishers and websites. They possess the tools and connections to secure high-quality results more quickly than an in-house team.
Quality Links: These agencies adhere to best practices to acquire quality backlinks from reputable sources, enhancing your SEO.
Scalability: A reliable agency can easily adapt to your requirements. Whether you need a few high-quality links or many, they can manage it efficiently.
Full Service: Many agencies offer more than just link building. They can create content and provide additional services such as SEO audits, keyword research, and social media management, adding extra value for you or your clients.
By hiring a team of experts, SEO firms and independent specialists can deliver superior link building services, significantly improving their clients’ SEO results.
How to choose a white-label link building agency
As you may already have guessed, choosing the right team is essential for delivering top results to your clients. Here are key factors to consider before making up your mind:
Case Studies
A reputable agency should have a portfolio of genuine, successful case studies that showcase their expertise and specialization in your niche. Look for detailed examples of their past work and verify their authenticity to gauge the agency’s ability to deliver the results you need.
Reviews
Client reviews provide insights into an agency’s performance. Platforms like Clutch and G2 offer scores and detailed feedback from previous clients. Checking these reviews will help you assess the agency’s reliability and effectiveness.
For example, if you search “top link building companies” on Clutch, here’s what you’ll see:
Agency Ratings: Comprehensive ratings based on client satisfaction, project success, and overall performance.
Client Testimonials: Detailed feedback highlighting strengths, areas for improvement, and overall experience with the agency.
Comparative Analysis: Compare various agencies side by side to identify the best fit for your needs based on client experiences and ratings.
By thoroughly evaluating case studies and client reviews, you can confidently select a white-label link building agency that will meet your needs and deliver exceptional results for your clients.
Realistic Guarantees
A reliable agency will give you a clear idea of the results you can expect. They provide realistic expectations and focus on delivering quality links rather than quantity. Therefore, they should specify how many links they can build and their quality. Steer clear of agencies that make unrealistic promises.
Safe Link Building Practices Only
Ensure the agency uses only no-risk or low-risk methods. Safe link building practices are crucial to avoid penalties from search engines and to maintain your site’s integrity. This includes avoiding black-hat tactics, such as buying links or participating in link schemes, which can result in severe penalties from search engines.
Transparency and Communication
A professional agency should maintain open lines of communication and be transparent about their processes. They should provide regular updates on the progress of your link building campaign and be willing to discuss strategies and answer any questions you may have.
By considering these factors—realistic guarantees, safe practices, and transparent communication—you can select a white-label link building agency that will effectively support your SEO goals and deliver sustainable results for your clients.
Proven Tactics for Building Backlinks
A professional white-label link building agency will employ various effective methods to build high-quality backlinks. These can include:
Guest Posting: Writing and publishing valuable articles on reputable websites in your niche to build authority and reach a wider audience.
Skyscraper Technique: Creating high-quality content that improves upon existing popular content and reaching out to sites linking to the original.
Connectively (ex-HARO): Providing expert quotes to journalists, which can potentially result in backlinks and increased visibility.
Linkable Assets: Creating valuable content like infographics, videos, and comprehensive guides that attract natural backlinks.
Using these methods indicates that the agency focuses on proven tactics for building backlinks.
Getting Just What You Need
Depending on your business niche and requirements, you can get links only from websites suitable for your needs. This helps you maintain control over the quality and relevance of the links being built.
Many agencies skip this step, but it’s a valuable feature to look for. That’s why we have it at Editorial.Link.
By ensuring that the agency uses proven methods and focuses on relevant, high-quality links, you can enhance your SEO strategy effectively.
Detailed Reporting is Crucial
Once you choose an agency, remember that detailed reporting is crucial. The agency should provide clear and comprehensive reports that show the progress and impact of their efforts. This transparency helps you keep track of the campaign’s effectiveness and ensures that you are getting the value you expect.
Key Elements of Effective Reporting
Link Acquisition Details: Reports should include information about each link acquired, such as the URL, domain authority, and context in which the link appears.
Performance Metrics: The agency should provide metrics showing how the backlinks are affecting your site’s performance. This might include changes in search engine rankings, organic traffic growth, and other relevant KPIs.
Content Performance: If the agency creates content as part of the link building strategy, the report should detail how well this content is performing in terms of engagement and shares.
Ongoing Strategy: Regular updates on the strategies being used and planned next steps help ensure that you understand the direction of the campaign and can provide input as needed.
By insisting on detailed and transparent reporting, you can effectively monitor the progress and success of your link building efforts, ensuring that your investment yields the desired results.
Choosing a white-label agency: Red flags
Knowing What to Avoid: Red Flags in Choosing a White-Label Agency
Being aware of potential pitfalls can help you make a smart choice and safeguard your investment. Here are some red flags to watch out for when selecting your perfect white-label agency:
Low-Quality Link Building
Low-quality link building can severely damage your SEO efforts. To ensure a white-label agency avoids these practices, ask about their methods, request case studies, and inquire about their approach to maintaining quality and compliance with search engine guidelines.
Link Farms: Avoid agencies that use link farms—sites created solely to host paid links, often characterized by poor content and low relevance. Google has deindexed many websites involved in deceptive link schemes, excessive link exchanges, paid links, and other manipulative practices that violate its guidelines.
Private Blog Networks (PBNs) and Forum Links: Be wary of agencies that rely on PBNs or forum links, as these often offer minimal to no SEO value and can even result in penalties.
Unrealistic Guarantees
Be cautious of agencies that make grand promises, such as guaranteeing top rankings or a massive number of backlinks quickly. These “pie in the sky” promises are often too good to be true and may indicate the use of dubious tactics.
Low Prices
Quality comes at a price, and obtaining high-quality links requires significant effort and resources. Attractive offers like “600+ links for $10” on platforms such as Fiverr.com often result in low-quality links that do more harm than good. It’s best to stay away from such “experts.”
Conclusion
By being vigilant about these red flags, you can make a more informed decision and choose a reputable white-label link building agency that will enhance your SEO strategy without risking penalties or damaging your reputation. Always prioritize quality and transparency to ensure the best outcomes for your link building efforts.
Building a Solid Link Profile Requires Investment
Building a solid link profile requires investment; cheap solutions rarely deliver the desired results. By avoiding these pitfalls, you can select a team that provides genuine value and supports your SEO goals effectively.
Conclusion
White-label link building is a strategic move for agencies and SEO experts alike. It allows you to offer top-notch services without overextending your resources. This approach ensures quality results and enables you to focus on other critical aspects of your business.
A good white-label program is flexible and can be customized to fit your needs and your clients’ specific requirements, making the process smooth and efficient for everyone involved.
Partnering with a reputable team of experts, such as Editorial.Link, means you can enhance the services you provide to your clients. This partnership adds value to your existing work and strengthens your overall SEO strategy.
The Republican governor’s school choice programs may serve as a model for other GOP-leaning states across the country.
Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans have dedicated years to transforming the state into a stronghold for school choice. Their efforts have paid off significantly, with tens of thousands more children now attending private or charter schools, or being homeschooled.
As these programs expand, some of Florida’s largest school districts are experiencing significant enrollment declines. This shift is forcing them to confront the possibility of campus closures as funding follows the growing number of parents moving away from traditional public schools.
The emphasis on these programs has been central to Governor DeSantis’ goals of reshaping the Florida education system, and they are set for another year of growth. DeSantis’ school policies are already influencing other GOP-leaning states, many of which have pursued similar voucher programs. Florida has also served as a conservative testing ground for a variety of other policies, including attacks on public- and private-sector diversity programs and challenges to the Biden administration on immigration.
“We need some big changes throughout the country,” DeSantis said Thursday evening at the Florida Homeschool Convention in Kissimmee. “Florida has shown a blueprint, and we really can be an engine for that as other states work to adopt a lot of the policies that we’ve done.”
Education officials in some of the state’s largest counties are now looking to cut costs by repurposing or closing campuses, including in Broward, Duval, and Miami-Dade counties. Despite some communities rallying to save their local public schools, traditional public schools are left with empty seats and budget shortfalls.
Since the 2019-20 school year, when the pandemic disrupted education, approximately 53,000 students have left traditional public schools in these counties. This significant decline is pushing school leaders to consider closing campuses that have been integral parts of local communities for years.
In Broward County, Florida’s second-largest school district, officials have proposed plans to close up to 42 campuses over the next few years, moves that would have a ripple effect across Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood.
The district has lost more than 20,000 students over the past five years, a decline coinciding with substantial growth in charter schools in the area. According to Broward school officials, enrollment in charter schools, which are public schools operating under performance contracts that free them from many state regulations, has increased by nearly 27,000 students since 2010.
Broward County Public Schools reports having more than 49,000 empty classroom seats this year, a number that “closely matches” the 49,833 students attending charter schools in the area, according to an enrollment overview by officials.
These shifts in enrollment are compelling Broward leaders to consider combining and condensing dozens of schools to save on major operating costs. However, some of these proposals are encountering significant resistance.
One proposal to convert a popular Fort Lauderdale magnet school focused on the Montessori teaching method into a neighborhood school brought nearly 200 people in opposition to a recent town hall. Dozens of audience members, wearing blue “VSY” shirts representing Virginia Shuman Young elementary, argued that the plan would cause an unnecessary “disruption” for a top-rated school.
“You are trying to create school communities that attract families,” Erin Gohl, the PTA president at VSY, said during the May 6 town hall. “Look at what you have before you—replicate, don’t dismantle and destroy this incredible school community.”
The strong opposition to school closures prompted Broward Superintendent Howard Hepburn to back away from the idea for the upcoming school year. However, school board members directed Hepburn to develop a plan to close eight schools in 2025 or 2026, believing it to be a difficult but necessary decision.
“If you want us to offer great education to your children and create the Broward County of tomorrow, you want us to close campuses,” school board member Allen Zeman said during a May 14 meeting. “And you want us to spend that money educating your students.”
Where Students Are Going
The enrollment declines in Broward, Duval, and Miami coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic, which led parents to seek new education choices for their children. School choice advocates note that how traditional public schools handled the pandemic, along with disagreements over curriculum and subject matter, have contributed to parents leaving.
“If your product is better, you’ll be fine. The problem is, they are a relic of the past—a monopolized system where you have one option,” said Chris Moya, a Florida lobbyist representing charter schools and the state’s top voucher administering organization, about traditional public schools. “And when parents have options, they vote with their feet.”
Statewide, charter school enrollment has increased by more than 68,000 students from 2019-20 to this school year, according to the Florida Department of Education. Over a third of that increase occurred in Broward, Duval, and Miami counties alone.
Private school enrollment across Florida rose by 47,000 students to 445,000 from 2019-20 to 2022-23, based on the latest data from the state. Much of this growth comes from newly enrolled kindergartners, with only a small fraction of these students previously enrolled in public schools, according to Step Up for Students, the leading administrator of state-sponsored scholarships in Florida.
Additionally, a growing number of families chose to homeschool their children during this period, with the homeschooling population increasing by nearly 50,000 students between 2019-20 and 2022-23, totaling 154,000 students in the latest Florida Department of Education data.
As all of these choice options rise, enrollment in traditional public schools across the state has decreased by 55,000 students from 2019-20 to this year, according to state data. However, enrollment isn’t down everywhere. While Duval County has lost thousands of students, enrollment has increased by more than 7,700 students in neighboring St. John’s County, the state’s top-ranked school district.
“The money follows the student and the family. It’s not embedded in a certain system or a certain framework,” DeSantis said in April when asked about potential school closures in Duval. “And so, the student and the family will be making those decisions.”
In Miami-Dade, nearly 15,000 new students are expected to receive state funding for education this fall. However, all of that growth is directed towards private and charter schools, leaving Miami-Dade Public Schools preparing for a decline of more than 4,000 students next year.
What may appear to be a “great story” for a school district on paper actually represents a significant enrollment dip, Ron Steiger, Chief Financial Officer for Miami-Dade Public Schools, told school board members during a May 22 workshop.
Miami Dade Public Schools are bracing for a decline of more than 4,000 students next year. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images
“Those students are not ours,” he said.
The state’s scholarship program is expected to expand, potentially leading to more students leaving traditional public schools. While most new scholarship recipients previously attended private schools, there is room for an additional 82,000 statewide—nearly 217,000 total—to attend private schools or opt for other schooling options at state expense next school year.
Additionally, projections from state economists indicate there will be 22,000 more scholarships available for families choosing homeschooling—up to 40,000—and 16,000 more for students with special needs.
School Districts Grapple with Enrollment Decline
While school leaders in Miami are not currently considering school closures amid declining enrollment, the district is preparing to repurpose several campuses. These plans have already stirred concern among parents who are uncertain about what changes may come to their children’s schools.
In Duval County, the growth of school choice programs is a significant factor contributing to a budget crisis affecting the school district, according to school officials.
According to Dana Kriznar, interim superintendent of Duval County Public Schools, traditional public schools in the area are projected to enroll 10,000 fewer students in 2024-25 compared to five years ago.
Similar to Broward County, school leaders in Duval County are advocating for consolidating and closing schools due to declining enrollment, while also preparing to eliminate over 700 positions. The district is also expected to exhaust federal COVID-19 relief funds and is grappling with escalated construction costs for previously planned projects, exacerbating financial strains.
Local communities are mobilizing to prevent cuts. Situated near Florida’s Atlantic Coast amidst palm trees, Atlantic Beach Elementary has been a cornerstone of the area just north of Jacksonville since 1939, known for its distinctive art-deco style. However, it is among many schools at risk of closure in Duval County, prompting Atlantic Beach city commissioners to pass a resolution to preserve their beloved “little pink school.”
Even if the Duval school board decides to spare Atlantic Beach Elementary or if Broward County steps back from closing Virginia Shuman Young elementary, changes and closures remain inevitable at traditional public schools in these regions.
“It’s a financial decision that we are making, but we are also approaching it with empathy and involving the community,” emphasized Duval County school board member Charlotte Joyce during a recent workshop meeting. “If we don’t address this issue, it could spell the end of traditional public education in Duval County.”
Mother of Transgender Girl Athlete Says Florida’s Investigation Has Ruined Her Daughter’s Life
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida public school employee, who faces termination for allowing her transgender daughter to play on a girls’ high school volleyball team, criticized those who outed her child, stating on Tuesday that the resulting investigation has devastated her daughter’s life.
Jessica Norton explained that her daughter was thriving at Monarch High School in suburban Fort Lauderdale until an anonymous tipster informed a Broward County school board member in November that the 16-year-old was participating on the girls’ varsity volleyball team, allegedly in violation of state law. The 2021 Fairness in Women’s Sports Act prohibits students assigned male at birth from competing in girls’ sports.
The tip triggered a school district investigation, resulting in Norton potentially losing her job as a computer information specialist at Monarch for permitting her daughter to play. Investigators also reported that Norton failed to revert her child’s gender designation in school records from “female” to “male,” as mandated by district policy.
Norton informed the school board on Tuesday that her daughter had been an elected freshman and sophomore class president, was chosen as the student body’s director of philanthropy, and was a homecoming princess. However, these accomplishments ceased when the investigation commenced, leading the girl to leave Monarch High School.
“They destroyed her high school career and her lifelong memories,” Norton lamented. “I saw the light in my daughter’s eyes gleam with future plans of organizing and attending prom, participating in and leading senior class traditions, speaking at graduation, and going off to college with the confidence and joy that any student like her would have after a successful and encouraging high school experience. And 203 days ago, I watched as that life was extinguished.”
Currently, the girl attends school online.
None of the board’s nine members responded to Norton, a seven-year district employee who had received exemplary evaluations prior to November.
The treatment of transgender children has become a contentious issue nationwide over the past few years. Florida is one of at least 25 states that have implemented bans on gender-affirming care for minors and one of at least 24 states that have enacted laws prohibiting transgender women and girls from participating in certain women’s and girls’ sports.
The board was scheduled to vote on Tuesday regarding Superintendent Howard Hepburn’s recommendation to terminate Norton’s employment, but this decision has been postponed for at least a month. A district committee had recommended a 10-day suspension for Norton, but Hepburn overruled it without providing an explanation. The board could choose to fire Norton, suspend her, or take no action.
Monarch Principal James Cecil and three other administrators were temporarily reassigned when the investigation began but were reinstated following student protests. The state’s athletic commission fined the school $16,500.
Broward is one of Florida’s most politically liberal counties, with twice as many Democrats as Republicans, and it has a significant LGBTQ+ community. The countywide school district is the nation’s fifth-largest, serving nearly 255,000 students across 327 schools.
According to the district investigative report, board member Daniel Foganholi contacted the district’s police department after receiving the anonymous tip. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Foganholi last year following the disqualification of the elected board member.
Since 2021, DeSantis has enacted the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act and other legislation targeting the transgender community. The Nortons are plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit challenging the act.
Foganholi did not respond to emails seeking comment last week and on Monday.
Norton’s child began taking puberty blockers at age 11 and estrogen but has not undergone gender-affirming surgery, which is rarely performed on minors.
Her parents assert that she often sat on the bench for Monarch’s volleyball team and does not have athletic advantages from being born male. When investigators asked Principal Cecil to describe the child, he said, “She looks like a girl to me. … she seems very small, very skinny.”
In response to Foganholi’s complaint, Broward schools assigned two officers to investigate. The state education department also appointed an investigator.
The investigation involved pulling and securing school records for Norton’s daughter, interviewing officials at Monarch and the daughter’s previous schools to determine who knew about her being transgender and when and how her records were changed. Investigators also interviewed Norton and three Monarch volleyball players.
Norton, who has two older children, said she enrolled her youngest child in kindergarten as a boy in 2013, four years before starting her employment with the district. The child transitioned to a girl in first grade, and this was known by other parents and children, so it was never a complete secret.
When her child was in second grade, Norton asked a school employee to change the child’s gender on school records. She claimed then-Superintendent Robert Runcie told her that was the procedure. Runcie, who left the district in 2021 after an unrelated controversy, was not contacted.
The district maintains that such changes are only permissible if the parent first amends the child’s birth certificate. Norton amended her child’s birth certificate in 2021, after she began working for the district. The district asserts that Norton should have reverted her child’s gender to male on school records in 2017 upon learning the policy.
Norton told investigators she didn’t comply because the amended records were accurate—her child is a girl.
Aware of the new state law barring transgender girls from playing girls’ sports when her daughter entered high school in 2022, detectives asked why she allowed her daughter to play volleyball and marked “female” on a permission form asking the child’s “sex at birth.”
“Because she’s my child and she wanted to play,” Norton replied. Norton also coached the junior varsity volleyball team.
Investigators interviewed Monarch volleyball players, who said the team did not change clothes or shower together, so they were never disrobed with Norton’s daughter. All three players knew or suspected Norton’s daughter was transgender but were not bothered by her participation. The Knights had a 13-7 record last season.
“I didn’t really have a problem with it because I didn’t think she was a threat or anything to anyone else,” one girl told investigators.
Authorities in Minnetonka, Minnesota are currently investigating the reported assault on 17-year-old Cobalt Sovereign as a potential hate crime.
The following contains graphic descriptions of violence against a transgender child.
Last week, a 17-year-old transgender student in Minnesota found herself hospitalized following an attack by a classmate in the school restroom. The disturbing incident, captured on video, unfolded at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, MN.
Cobalt Sovereign, a junior at the school, recounted to NBC affiliate KARE that on May 30, she encountered verbal abuse from a fellow student while attempting to use the restroom. Despite the availability of gender-neutral facilities, Sovereign, who prefers she/they pronouns, opted for the boys’ restroom due to convenience, though it caused considerable discomfort.
Recalling the ordeal, Sovereign shared how the assailant peered over the stall and hurled derogatory slurs, including the use of the word “faggot,” which was allegedly repeated several times. Upon leaving the restroom, Sovereign was confronted by three students, one of whom initiated an unprovoked attack. Subsequent examination revealed Sovereign suffered a broken jaw in two places, with a shattered molar and potential traumatic brain injury (TBI). Hospitalized for two days, Sovereign continues to grapple with the physical and psychological aftermath, including recurring nightmares.
Hopkins High School promptly addressed the situation, initiating disciplinary measures against the alleged attacker. Further legal action rests with the Hennepin County attorney’s office, while local authorities are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. Citing student privacy laws, the identity of the alleged perpetrator remains undisclosed.
Reflecting on the incident, Cobalt’s brother, Wilder Sovereign, expressed dismay over the escalation of transphobia, emphasizing the severity of the assault as an unprecedented manifestation within their community.
At Hopkins High on Wednesday, another segment of Sovereign’s community gathered in solidarity, demanding justice and accountability. Local LGBTQ+ organizations, such as the Queer Equity Institute, mobilized alongside Minnesota Rep. Leigh Finke, the state’s pioneering openly transgender legislator.
Addressing the assembly, Finke underscored the fundamental right to restroom usage without fear of violence, lamenting the fact that such a basic act has become perilous for marginalized communities. “The simplest act imaginable for a human is to just pee in peace, and our community is beaten and killed because that’s what we are trying to do,” Finke articulated, emphasizing the pervasive nature of such incidents. “We are here at Hopkins because this happened here, but this happens everywhere.”
In an Instagram post shared on Wednesday, Rep. Leigh Finke drew attention to what they described as “frightening similarities” between the violence endured by Cobalt Sovereign and the February assault on Oklahoma teenager Nex Benedict. While officials have stated that Benedict’s subsequent death was attributed to suicide, purportedly linked to medications found in their system, this narrative has been met with skepticism by some LGBTQ+ advocates, who demand further investigation.
Highlighting the disparities in official response, Finke expressed concern over the lack of immediate action taken by the school following both incidents. “The school did not call an ambulance. The school did not file a police report. Students and families were not notified. It wasn’t until our rally was announced yesterday that authorities began to move,” Finke wrote, juxtaposing the contrasting reactions to the two attacks. “Cobalt lived. Thank goddess. Nex did not. Please help us make sure there is no next time.”
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