Letter to Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education - Soto Leads Letter Asking Us Secretary of Education to Investigate Proposal to Defund Certain Florida School Districts That Instituted Mask Policies

Letter

Dear Secretary Cardona:

We write to request your department consider investigating the recent proposal in Florida House
of Representatives to withhold $200 million in funding from twelve Florida school districts that
instituted mask policies at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. Fining school districts
based on the number of administrators making more than $100,000 is arbitrary and capricious. In
your October 28, 2021 complaint to the Office of Administrative Law Judges (OALJ), you
reference universal masking policies were consistent with CDC recommendations for K-12
schools at that time.

Florida is the third largest state, but unfortunately ranks 46th in per-pupil support. These additional
reductions in funding exacerbate an already strained system. Under this proposal, Orange County
Public School District's funding would be reduced by $16.5 million, and combined Miami-Dade,
Broward, Palm Beach County school districts would not receive $128 million in funding.

This proposal is another attempt to punish these school districts that implemented universal
masking policies during an ongoing global pandemic. Thank you for your full and fair
consideration, consistent with all applicable laws and regulations, to this matter.