Senate Bill 88, which majority Republicans on Tuesday passed out of the Senate Education and Youth Committee on a party-line vote, now says private schools would have to obtain written permission from all parents before instruction “addressing issues of gender identity, queer theory, gender ideology, or gender transition.”

For the first time in the state’s history, any family can apply for an Opportunity Scholarship to cover K-12 private school costs, regardless of their income.

The requirement was implemented to comply with the Parental Rights in Education law, which was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022. Supporters say it gives parents greater control over their children’s education, while critics call it the “Don’t Say Gay” law.

College courses and programs that prepare students for high-paying jobs are making a difference in lifting students out of poverty, according to a Dallas nonprofit.

Major programs could also be reduced or eliminated, including countywide chorus, band and strings, junior varsity and middle school athletics, plus gifted programs.

Action comes after two Edina High School students filed a federal complaint late last year, alleging the school district discriminated against them when they were suspended for using a pro-Palestinian chant during a walkout to protest the Israel-Hamas war.

The guardians would train twice a year inside of the school, and the county sheriff would oversee their duties, Wilcox said. Guardians would undergo mental health evaluations and de-escalation training. Their training would also include firearms proficiency.

The questions the students asked ranged from how their fellow classmates would be involved in administrative decision making in the future, what the candidates would do to help long-term substitute teachers, and how they would be visible in school buildings.