- Monroe County School District
- Parental Rights
Parental Rights
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- Click here to view Parental Rights information from the Florida Department of Education
- Click here to see our Parent Resources page
- Click here to see School Board Policies and Procedures
Parental Rights
The School Board of Monroe County, Florida is committed to honoring the rights of parents/legal guardians and promoting their involvement in the District. The School Board recognizes the fundamental rights of parents/legal guardians to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their minor children. To that end, the School Board has adopted the following policies: po 5780: Students/Parents Rights; and po 2111: and Family Involvement in the School. This webpage also contains a list of important information relating to the promotion of parental involvement in our schools.
Parents’ Bill of Rights (HB 241) (2021) and Parental Rights in Education (HB 1557) (2022)
In 2021, the Legislature enacted HB 241, the Parents’ Bill of Rights, codified in Chapter 1014, F.S. It provides that “important information relating to a minor child should not be withheld, either inadvertently or purposefully, from his or her parent.” (s. 1014.02, F.S.) School boards, as well as other government agencies, may not infringe upon the fundamental rights of parents unless it is “reasonable and necessary to achieve a compelling state interest and that such action is narrowly tailored and is not otherwise served by a less restrictive means.” (s. 1014.03, F.S.) These rights include the right “to direct the education and care of [the parent’s] minor children.” (s. 1014.04(1)(a), F.S.) Finally, school boards must adopt a policy to promote parental involvement in the schools, including a process to object to instructional materials, opt-out of sex education, and other rights previously enacted in the Education Code (Chapters 1000-1013, F.S.). (s. 1014.05, F.S.)
Further, in 2022, the Legislature enacted HB 1557, entitled Parental Rights in Education. This bill amended the Powers and Duties of District School Boards. (s. 1001.42, F.S.) It requires school boards to adopt procedures for notifying parents/legal guardians “if there is a change in the student’s services or monitoring related to the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being and the school’s ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student.” (s. 1001.42(8)(c)1., F.S.) District procedures can only permit withholding information from a parent/legal guardian “if a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect.” (s. 1001.42(8)(c)2., F.S.)
The Legislature also added to the Superintendent’s Duties and Responsibilities. Section 1001.51(12)(a), Florida Statutes, provides that “Such records and reports shall include any determination to withhold from a parent information regarding the provision of any services to support the mental, physical, or emotional well-being of the parent’s minor child. Any such determination must be based solely on child-specific information personally known to the school personnel and documented and approved by the school principal or his or her designee. Such determination must be annually reviewed and redetermined.” (s. 1001.51(12)(a), F.S.)
Helpful Links Required by the Parents’ Bill of Rights:
Based on the Parents’ Bill of Rights (particularly Section 1014.05(1), Florida Statutes) and Parental Rights in Education (particularly Section 1001.42(8), Florida Statutes, all MCSD parents/legal guardians have the right to the following (please click on each heading to see the drop-down box with more information).
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Improve Parent and Teacher Cooperation in Homework, School Attendance, and Discipline
Parents/legal guardians can click this FOCUS Parent Portal link to access and view attendance, discipline and assignment information.
Parents/legal guardians can communicate and cooperate with their child’s teacher through the FOCUS Parent Portal or by contacting the teacher via email or by phone. Please allow 24 hours for a response to a phone call and 48 hours for a response to written communication.*This section complies with Section 1014.05(1)(a), Florida Statutes
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Learn About Courses of Study, Supplemental Materials, and How to Access and Review School Records
Parents/legal guardians can access many school records on the FOCUS Parent Portal including current year attendance, schedules, grades, discipline, standardized test scores, report cards, and online forms. Parents/legal guardians can also contact their children’s schools to learn about the course of study.
If you are interested in obtaining an official transcript or student records you can do so by faxing or mailing a request to your school. Please click here for more information on student records and to access the Student Records Authorization Form.
Click here to see the School Board Policy addressing Student Records.
Click here to find out how to request other types of public records.
*This section complies with Sections 1014.05(1)(b) and 1014.05(1)(f)(3), Florida Statutes.
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How to Inspect and/or Object to Instructional Materials
Parents/legal guardians can click here to find a list of currently adopted instructional materials (i.e. textbooks).
The MCSD Instructional Materials and Technology Applications page provides parents/legal guardians with a complete list of digital applications adopted by the district.Parents/legal guardians may object to instructional materials and other materials used in the classroom based on beliefs regarding morality, sex, and religion or the belief that such materials are harmful.
To learn about the process to request a particular physical or digital material be reconsidered please visit the MCSD Instructional Materials page.
- 2520A - SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT details the procedures for the adoption of instructional materials.
- 2521 - INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS PROGRAM governs the responsibility and criteria for the selection of library materials and other reading materials.
*This section complies with Sections 1014.05(1)(b), 1014.05(1)(c), and 1014.05(1)(f)(6), Florida Statutes.
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Procedures to Opt-Out of Comprehensive Health Education
Parents/legal guardians can go to our web page Required Health Curriculum to access and view the instructional materials used in reproductive health and disease curriculum.
Parents/legal guardians are able to exempt their children from the teaching of reproductive health or any disease, including HIV/AIDS (per Section 1003.42, Florida Statutes). Parents/legal guardians who wish to exempt their children from participating in reproductive health and disease instruction, including instruction relating to HIV/AIDS, can find instructions for doing so on our Required Health Curriculum page.*This section complies with Sections 1014.05(1)(d) and 1014.05(1)(f)(1), Florida Statutes.
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Learn About Clubs and Activities
Parents/legal guardians can click here for a full list of extracurricular activities at each school.
*This section complies with Section 1014.05(1)(e), Florida Statutes.
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Receive Information About School Choice Options
Parents/legal guardians receive annual notification of open enrollment for School Choice options through ?. School Choice information can also be accessed here.
*This section complies with Section 1014.05(1)(f)(2), Florida Statutes.
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Immunization/Immunization Exemption Information
All student immunizations must be up-to-date to attend school in Monroe County. The immunizations are recorded on a Florida Certification of Immunization (DH 680) form, which can be obtained through the Monroe County Health Department or your doctor’s office. Parents/legal guardians can find additional information by contacting the Monroe County Health Department.
For more details about the rights and requirements regarding immunizations, the School Board's policy po 5320 can be found here.
Parents/legal guardians can contact the Florida Department of Health for additional information on immunization exemption requirements.
*This section complies with Section 1014.05(1)(f)(3), Florida Statutes.
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Statewide Standardized Assessment Results
Parents/legal guardians can click this Parent Portal link to access and view assessment results.
Florida statewide assessment results can also be viewed on the Florida Department of Education Results page.*This section complies with Section 1014.05(1)(f)(4), Florida Statutes.
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Special Education Programs
School Board Policy ap2464a regarding gifted education
Parents/legal guardians and school staff may refer students for screening for the gifted program in Kindergarten-12th grade at any time during the school year.
All students will be screened for gifted in second grade using the Universal Gifted Screening Process. Exceptions to this include students who have already been placed into the gifted program; have already been evaluated and found ineligible for gifted services; or have had a cognitive evaluation as part of consideration for another program.
Referred students are screened at the school by completing a standardized paper and pencil group intelligence test. Those students who score at a high level on the group test are scheduled for a more lengthy and in-depth evaluation by a school psychologist.
A school psychologist administers an individualized test of intelligence to determine a student’s intellectual ability. In Florida, a student must score two standard deviations above the mean or higher in order to meet the intellectual criterion for the gifted program.
In conjunction with the psychologist’s testing, a checklist of gifted student behavioral characteristics is completed by one or more teachers familiar with the student. All information is then reviewed by an eligibility staffing committee at the school to determine if the student has a need for the gifted program and meets eligibility criteria.
Parents/legal guardians may also choose to contract with a private psychologist for their child's evaluation. The private psychologist must be licensed. When a private psychologist is used, the child’s school psychologist will review copies of the evaluation. The staffing committee will then determine eligibility according to the same criteria mentioned above.
Information regarding Exceptional Student Education (ESE) ProgramsSchool Board Policy po 2460 regarding ESE Programs
Parents/legal guardians and school staff may request that students be evaluated in Kindergarten-12th grade at any time during the school year.*This section complies with Section 1014.05(1)(f)(5), Florida Statutes.
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Access Information Relating to the School District’s Policies for Promotion or Retention, including High School Graduation Requirements
Parents/legal guardians can click here to view the current Student Progression Plan.
Click this link to access the School Board Policy regarding Student Progression, po 5410.
*This section complies with Section 1014.05(1)(f)(7), Florida Statutes
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Access a School Report Card
Parents/legal guardians can click this Parent Portal link to access and view student grades, progress reports, and report cards. The state requirements for school districts to issue report cards can be found in Florida statute 1003.33.
*This section complies with Section 1014.05(1)(f)(8), Florida Statutes.
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Attendance Requirements
Parents/legal guardians can find information on attendance requirements in School Board Policy po 5200.
*This section complies with Section 1014.05(1)(f)(8), Florida Statutes.
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Access Information Relating to the State Public Education System and State Standards
MCSD curriculum follows the state adopted Florida Standards. Parents/legal guardians can access information from the state of Florida relating to the state public education system, state standards, report card requirements, attendance requirements, and instructional materials requirements.
*This section complies with Section 1014.05(1)(f)(9), Florida Statutes.
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Participate in Parent-Teacher Associations and Organizations
Every Monnroe County Public School has a School Advisory Council (SAC) and most have a Parent-Teacher Organization or Association (PTO/PTSA). More information on each group can be found on each school's website.
*This section complies with Section 1014.05(1)(f)(10), Florida Statutes.
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Opt-Out of District-Level Data Collection not Required by Law
Parents/legal guardians have the opportunity to complete the Parent Technology Media Information Consent form in the OCPS Parent Portal annually. Click here for additional information and directions.
*This section complies with Section 1014.05(1)(f)(11), Florida Statutes.
Request for Information
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Parents/legal guardians are encouraged to work with their children’s school with respect to any concerns. A parent/legal guardian may also request, in writing, information regarding the topics from this page, by emailing questions@ocps.net.
In the event that a parent/legal guardian does not receive a response to their email to questions@ocps.net or their request for information to questions@ocps.net is denied within ten (10) calendar days, a parent/legal guardian can appeal the denial to the district school board. School Board Services can be reached at 407.317.3236. The opportunity for appeal applies to concerns relating to the information as set forth in Section 1014.05, Florida Statutes.*This section complies with Section 1014.05(3), Florida Statutes.