Florida Education Overhaul

Marching Band and Cursive Make a Classroom Comeback

Florida removed cursive from its state standards in 2010 when it adopted Common Core. Now, under SB 182, grades 3 through 5 must teach students to read and write in cursive. Supporters say the skill builds better literacy. Rep. Tobin Overdorf pushed the bill after hearing that young adults could no longer sign legal documents, according to WUFT.

HB 453 lets students swap their PE requirement for marching band, performing arts, or Special Olympics participation. The bill passed the Florida Senate 36-0 and the House 113-0. Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman argued that band students "train for hours... carry heavy instruments... it makes no sense that this work would not count," according to WJXT. Over 86,000 Special Olympics athletes are now eligible for the credit, per Special Olympics Florida.

Teacher Union Rules Tighten With New Decertification Threat

SB 1296 sets tough new rules for public employee unions. Unions must now have 60% of eligible workers paying dues. If they fall short, they face a decertification vote. Union elections also require 50% of the entire bargaining unit to turn out — or the vote does not count. Fines for illegal strikes doubled from $20,000 to $40,000 per day.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill on May 1, 2026. He said, "Time and again, partisan school unions have shown they do not act in the best interests of the teachers," according to the Governor's Press Office. Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar, who represents 120,000 members, called the law a "betrayal" and an attack on "constitutionally enshrined rights of workers," according to Palm Beach Post.

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At-Risk Students Get Easier Access to Epinephrine Devices

Building on a 2025 law that mandated anaphylaxis training in K-8 schools, Florida now allows at-risk students to carry FDA-approved epinephrine injectors on campus. Trained staff members can also administer the devices in emergencies. Parents of children with severe allergies lobbied heavily for the change, according to News-Journalonline.com. HB 1201, the related epilepsy and seizure care bill, passed the Senate 37-0 and the House 112-0.

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Military Families, Homeless Students, and Presidents' Portraits

Several other laws also kicked in July 1. Schools must now display portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Children of military families get in-state residency status for tuition purposes. Homeless students get a tuition and fee exemption at state colleges. The expanded Bright Futures Scholarship for military families will cost the state an estimated $7.6 million in the 2026-27 school year, rising to $11.2 million annually by 2029, according to Florida Politics.

Teachers with expired licenses will also find it easier to return to the classroom under the new rules. Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas called the full package of laws a way to "remove barriers, reward excellence, and increase transparency," according to Tallahassee.com.

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