DeSantis Bucks Congress, Says Education Policy is a 'State and Local Issue'

MIAMI—After signing a historic “Education Reform” bill into law, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is considered a Constitutionalist, was asked if he believed education policy should be left up to the states, and not the federal government.

Gov. DeSantis responded by saying that education policy was a "state and local issue," all but echoing what Rep. Matt Gaetz previously said about education reform.

“In terms of the education policy, I think it’s a state and local issue,” said Gov. DeSantis. “I think the federal government getting involved, by and large, has not been great.”

Gov. DeSantis added that he was “very supportive of parents' rights in education,” and that parents played a “fundamental role in the education of their kids.”

The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted in favor of a Florida-style Parents Bill of Rights ACT (H.R. 5), that would tackle education reforms at the federal level.

The Parents Bill of Rights ACT (H.R. 5), which calls for “local educational agencies and schools” to comply with the bill's requirements or face federal defunding, passed by a vote total of 213-208.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, a friend of DeSantis, was the sole vote of opposition to the bill.

“Constitutionally, education is a state and local issue. I don’t know why the United States Congress would try to make itself America’s school board,” said Rep. Gaetz.

The other lawmakers who voted against the bill were Reps. Andy Biggs, Ken Buck, Mike Lawler, and Matt Rosendale.