WUSF
By Cathy Carter
3/16/23
The nonprofit, American Oversight, is requesting records involving communication between state and federal education officials, outside groups, and the office of Gov. DeSantis.
A nonprofit group focused on government accountability has filed a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Education, saying requests for public records concerning state education policies have not been released.
In its complaint, American Oversight said the agency has violated Florida law by unlawfully refusing “access to public records concerning the current administration’s extensive and fast-moving changes to public education in Florida.”
Tampa law firm Thomas and LoCicero filed the lawsuit Thursday in Leon County.
“The DeSantis administration’s efforts to stifle classroom discussion and rewrite history are a grave threat to the education and well-being of hundreds of thousands of students, teachers and parents in Florida,” said Heather Sawyer, American Oversight’s executive director.
“Getting information to the public about exactly what’s happening, who’s involved and why they’re doing this is really critical so that the public can take action now. It’s not going to be good enough that they find out years from now when changes have taken effect and have reshaped the landscape for the kids in the schools there.”