Conservatives are pushing a ‘parental rights’ agenda in Florida school board races. Will it work?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “parental rights” campaign didn’t win him the Republican presidential nomination, but he’s still waging that fight on another front: Florida’s schools, where the movement could have an impact on public education long after he leaves office.

Though the seats are officially nonpartisan, DeSantis has endorsed 23 school board candidates across 14 counties this cycle — and targeted 14 incumbent members. It’s part of his agenda to counter what he calls “woke” ideology in public schools.

Much of the political debate in the races has hinged on “parents’ rights” at a time when both parties are fighting to win over the contested voting bloc of suburban women. The modern parental rights movement grew out of opposition to pandemic precautions in schools and is now animated by complaints about classroom instruction on identity, race and history.

The view from Pinellas County

Katie Blaxberg wants to make school board meetings boring again. But her campaign for an open seat on the Pinellas County School Board on Florida’s Gulf Coast has been anything but that.

Since launching her bid, the mom of three has been trolled online, labeled by opponents as a child abuser and has increased security at her home.

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«RELATED COVERAGE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> RELATED COVERAGE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Utah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> AP Decision Notes: What to