Florida Education Association (FEA) has joined a call for Congress to ensure that public schools, places of worship, and hospitals are treated as protected spaces. The organization emphasized the need for public schools to remain safe environments for students, parents, and educators.
The FEA highlighted Florida’s cultural and ideological diversity as one of the state’s strengths. However, it expressed concern over what it described as divisive rhetoric on immigration at the national level. According to the FEA, such rhetoric has led to actions by the federal government that have caused fear and anxiety within school communities.
“Our job as teachers and education staff professionals is to ensure every child in our community has a safe place to learn, grow, and be a kid – regardless of race, status, religion, or gender. When students and parents are afraid of what may come for them or their neighbors, it disrupts learning for everyone and creates an anxiety that does not allow students to learn and grow to their fullest potential,” stated the association.
The FEA cited recent findings from Florida’s Education Estimating Conference for PreK-12 Enrollment report as evidence that all parts of Florida’s K-12 system have been affected by these developments.
“Every child in Florida is entitled to a public education regardless of immigration status, per the U.S. Constitution. We must ensure that our public schools are protected spaces, not political stages used to foment more division,” the statement continued.
The association concluded with a call for unity: “We must stand united to protect our public schools, protect our children, and stand firmly beside our immigrant communities.”
The FEA represents 120,000 members including PreK-12 teachers, higher education faculty, educational staff professionals, students preparing to become teachers at colleges and universities across Florida, as well as retired education employees.
