DOE: Leon County schools went 'beyond' law with pledge form

The Florida Department of Education says the Leon County School district went “above and beyond” legal requirements in creating a form regarding students’ rights to opt out of the Pledge of Allegiance.

The form, of which 3,500 copies were printed and only 400 distributed, was sent out with LCS student handbooks and immediately drew criticism from parents — even garnering national attention.

“We want it to be abundantly clear that while yes, there is a law stating you need to notify parents, there is no requirement to create any type of form or waiver,” said DOE Director of Communications Meghan Collins.

In an interview with the Democrat Tuesday, Superintendent Jackie Pons defended the district, saying, “When they pass a statute that requires us to put notifications in a handbook, no matter how you do that, it creates issues. We changed the student handbook to make sure we included the language of the state. If somebody wants to not participate they can provide their own note.”

Our opinion: Permission and the pledge

Collins added that content in student handbooks is determined by individual districts and in some cases individual schools themselves.

“Having to put verbiage in the handbook is required, but that is not what I’ve seen people outraged over,” Collins said. “By deciding to remove it from their handbook, they’ve made a clear statement.”

The district sent out about 400 copies of a form that would allow LCS students to opt out of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, but  Pons scrapped the form after a barrage of upset phone calls and a wave of opposition on social media.

Collins said the law that requires districts give notice of a student's right to abstain from the pledge was part of a massive education bill signed by Gov. Rick Scott this past legislative session.

“The bill passed with significant support in the Legislature," she said, "This is just one piece that was in there.”