SB 266 legislation also gives university presidents greater authority over hiring practices. DeSantis signed the bill on the campus of New College of Florida, an institution he has been reforming to make it more like Michigan's Hillsdale College, a private liberal arts school.
The governor has been vocal in opposing "woke" influences on education. He has passed legislation granting parents more authority over their children's elementary, middle, and high school education.
DeSantis' action is part of a more significant national movement pushing education reform. The push gained momentum in Virginia's gubernatorial election in 2021 when parents revolted against the lack of transparency in the state's schools and its emphasis on Critical Race Theory.
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During a speech on Monday, DeSantis touted his changes to New College, saying that his effort to de-emphasize DEI and Critical Race Theory in the institution was attracting faculty from across the country.
May 16, 2023
"There's a lot of interest in faculty around the country, and not conservative faculty, [but] across the board, because I think there's a recognition that this whole framework has been very intellectually oppressive," DeSantis said. "People feel like they're walking on eggshells…. That's not a healthy environment. They don't believe that they have the freedom to speak their minds on a lot of these university campuses."
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In addition to the funding ban, DeSantis signed a bill prohibiting public universities from requiring students and faculty to provide "diversity statements" to be admitted or hired. Such statements demonstrate how an applicant's experiences would help make a campus more diverse and inclusive.
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The move is part of DeSantis' broader effort to reform Florida's public universities. His administration has stated that they want to make New College of Florida more like Hillsdale College, emphasizing conservative values and classical education.
The legislation will likely face legal challenges, as it may violate the First Amendment's protections for free speech and academic freedom.
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