A variety of new laws went into effect in Florida on Tuesday, including several related to education.  

Here is a breakdown of some of the notable new education-related bills families should be aware of as a new school year draws closer.  

HB 1101 – Education  

The bill encompasses a wide range of measures as it relates to education in Florida. Among those initiatives are restrictions on cellphone use in schools.  

Under this law, elementary and middle school students will be banned from using their cellphones during the school day. High school students can still use their phones outside the classroom, but not during instruction.  

The bill provides exceptions for medical or educational needs and establishes a pilot program in six counties to study prohibiting phone usage for a full day in high schools.  

The bill also highlights several changes in regard to private and charter schools in the state. 

One of the more notable changes is the charter school conversion process.  

Previously, under state statutes, district school boards, principals, teachers, parents and school advisory councils were able to apply for a conversion charter school at a current public school that was in operation for at least two years prior to the application to convert. 

However, under the revised bill, the application for a conversion charter school can now only be requested by parents whose children are currently enrolled in the school being converted.  

State statutes also stated that a submitted application proposing to convert an existing public school to a charter school needed at least 50 percent of the support of the teachers employed at the school.  

This is no longer the case under the new law, as the decision to convert would only need the support of a majority of the parents with students enrolled at the school.  

The bill also makes modifications to high school instruction and graduation requirements. This includes allowing students to substitute marching band for a performing arts or physical education credit, with exceptions.  

In addition, the bill requires the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) to develop new applied, equivalent and integrated courses to substitute for course requirements, and to incorporate work-based internships in graduation planning.  

HB 549 – Gulf of America (state, school materials)  

In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The new law requires state agencies to change the name in any geographic documents. It also mandates that the name be changed in instructional material and library media adopted or acquired by public and charter schools after July 1.  

This law is in addition to HB 575, which replaces the Gulf of Mexico with the Gulf of America throughout Florida Statutes. 

For a complete list of the new state laws, visit https://laws.flrules.org/.