DeSantis Signs Wide-Ranging Education Laws Covering Health, Safety, Curriculum, and Accountability
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a series of education-focused bills passed during the 2025 legislative session, with new laws addressing student health, school safety, curriculum standards, and administrative flexibility.
Health and Safety Enhancements
Several new laws aim to better prepare schools for student health emergencies. Schools will now be required to keep glucagon on hand to treat diabetic emergencies and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to respond to cardiac arrest. Families will also receive educational materials on diabetes. New training requirements will ensure school staff are equipped to handle severe allergic reactions and recognize signs of human trafficking. Schools must also develop response plans for both issues.
Under expanded school safety laws, childcare centers can now participate in Florida’s school guardian program, which allows trained volunteers to assist with on-campus security. Additionally, schools will be required to remove staff from the classroom if they are accused of specific criminal offenses.
Curriculum and Participation Changes
New academic standards will require students to receive instruction on disability awareness and history, highlighting the experiences of individuals with intellectual, physical, and emotional disabilities. The legislation also makes it easier for private and homeschool students to join public school sports teams and allows inmates to apply prison education toward professional licensure.
Administrative and Accountability Reforms
School districts will now regain control over start times for middle and high schools after previously passed restrictions were repealed. Dropout recovery programs may choose how they are evaluated—either by standard school grades or school improvement ratings. Additionally, school social workers are no longer required to be certified teachers, a move aimed at broadening hiring flexibility.
Full List of New Education Laws Signed by Governor DeSantis:
- SB 472 – Allows inmates to use certain education programs toward professional licenses.
- SB 1470 – Expands school guardian program to include childcare centers.
- SB 958 – Requires schools to distribute Type 1 diabetes information to families.
- SB 1514 – Mandates anaphylaxis training and response plans in schools.
- HB 447 – Requires instruction on disability history and awareness.
- SB 248 – Enables private and homeschool students to join public school athletic teams.
- SB 296 – Repeals mandated middle and high school start times, restoring local control.
- SB 1374 – Requires removal of school employees accused of certain crimes.
- SB 1402 – Allows dropout programs to choose between school grade or improvement rating.
- HB 809 – Removes teacher certification requirement for school social workers.
- HB 1237 – Requires schools to train staff in human trafficking awareness and reporting.
- HB 1607 – Mandates AED devices at all schools for cardiac emergency response.
- HB 597 – Requires schools to have glucagon on campus for diabetic emergencies.
These measures reflect the DeSantis administration’s continued emphasis on restructuring Florida’s education system through a mix of health preparedness, parental rights, school flexibility, and curriculum oversight.
