Florida’s latest education legislation has a reduced impact compared to previous years.

Governor Ron DeSantis quietly signed two bills on Thursday aimed at reducing bureaucracy and red tape in public education. The measures, SB 7002 and 7004, eliminated some reporting requirements for school districts, although they fell short of advocates’ expectations by not including provisions to reduce high-stakes testing.

Despite the absence of significant changes in testing requirements, the overall goal of the bills was to ease state regulations on schools. Lobbyist Megan Fay noted that this legislative session saw a decrease in the number of bills impacting K-12 education, with very few new mandates introduced.

DeSantis also signed a school safety bill requiring all school doors to be locked when not staffed, a measure that raised concerns among school leaders. Additionally, a new mandate was introduced to teach the history of communism in schools.

While some bills had minimal impact on school districts, others, such as those limiting school book challenges and prohibiting “identity politics” in teacher training programs, received praise from school officials.

The governor also signed legislation expanding eligibility for state vouchers and education savings accounts, as well as creating a program for high school dropouts to earn a diploma and workforce credentials.

As school officials await the governor’s decision on the budget, they are hopeful that the deregulation trend will continue in future sessions. There is optimism that provisions to reduce testing requirements may be reintroduced in the future.