Although banned at the start of August this year, the AP Psychology ban has now been ‘reversed’ in Florida schools. 

In the first week of August, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida banned AP Psych due to its mentions of LGBTQ and sexual orientation. Being threatened of ‘indoctrination’ and ‘sexualization’ that supposedly goes along with the studies of Gender and LGBTQ, DeSantis and several ‘concerned’ parental groups pushed the ban. Another cause of the banning is that the AP class violated the “Don’t Say Gay” law that was set in Florida.  College board explains the use of LGBTQ and sexual orientation is because of behavior and how those aspects of people influence socialization and development. 

However, the ban has been ‘reversed’ due to many complaints of how the rule is ‘unconstitutional’ and how the rule is going too far for politicians to ban a common class. According to news reports, the Florida Education Department claimed that the course can now be taught in an appropriate and developmentally appropriate manner. A representative of Brevard Public Schools, a school 50 miles away from Orlando communicated with NBC, saying that if they include all the material of the course, it would be ‘against the law’, and if they don’t, there would be no college credit in the conversation.

Despite the reversal, many Florida educators and schools are hesitant about bringing the course back, and some schools continue to eliminate the course from their offerings. Six schools communicated with NBC that they will not offer the course this year. 

Over the few past years, the fear of backlash from parental groups and other communities that support DeSantis and his ideas all over the country has increased. Even if a government official rule allows specific teachings, certain groups of people outside the school’s curriculum can attack the teachers and threaten their jobs. The backlash has also contributed to the teacher shortage in Florida. According to Andrew Spar, President of the Florida Education Association, Florida is reaching its peak of the teacher shortage compared to the past 15-20 years and is ranked 48th in the nation for average pay.