The FEA won round one of an almost certain battle that will head to the Florida Supreme Court on Governor DeSantis’ mandate to reopen schools in a brick and mortar fashion with DOE ORDER NO. 2020-E0-06, issued on July 6.

Judge Charles Dodson’s order blocks DeSantis and state Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran from moving forward with the executive order that mandates Florida’s brick-and-mortar schools open five days a week despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. However, DeSantis was quick to respond with notices of appeal in the two cases referenced by the order. The governor’s office argued that under Florida appellate rules, the plans to appeal put an automatic stay on the ruling.

We continue to monitor the case.