Florida to create classical education teacher certification

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - The Florida Board of Education will develop a new Classical Education teachers certification. Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new law Tuesday creating the certification for Classical Education teachers.

Classical education academies are growing across the country. Arcadia Education said there are more than 677,500 students at 1,551 schools in the U.S., 18 of those schools are in Florida.

“I think it is such a gift to give young students this ability. It will serve them well for their whole lives,” Jacksonville Classical Academy mother Ruth Poe said.

Classical schools typically center their curriculum around grammar, logic and rhetoric.

“Classical I think really recaptures what’s been lost in some of the political mumble jumbo that we’ve seen over many decades,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

The Florida Board of Education will create a certification pathway for classical education teachers. It’s part of a comprehensive education bill Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law at Jacksonville Classical Academy Tuesday.

“They have a teaching certificate right here at the academy, you know that that’s somebody that has the training in the way you’re trying to educate the kids,” Gov. DeSantis said.

The teaching certificates would only be valid at a classical school. However, some state lawmakers are worried about setting a double standard for teachers.

“It’s clear the same requirements for teachers in public schools and charter schools right now will not apply to teachers teaching in these classical schools,” Rep. Ashley Gantt, (D) Miami, said.

Rep. Ashley Gantt went through the teacher certification process. She said the law is too vague and leaves too many unknowns.

“What measurement are we using to make sure that they’re qualified that they are adhering to whatever curriculum is developed and that actually have the ability to teach that?” Rep. Gantt said.

The state authorized using classical standardized tests for college acceptance last year.

The new law Governor DeSantis signed Tuesday also limits book challenges at public schools. Anyone who is not a parent in the district can now only challenge one book a month.

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