Four private Central Florida schools are scrambling after Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended their voucher programs and accused them of having “direct ties” to the Chinese Communist Party.
They adamantly deny the accusations but nevertheless have to figure out what do with families dependent on those vouchers and even provide increased security as the governor’s spotlight creates safety concerns.
“Our schools are locally run, abide by local, state and federal laws, and do not have ties to any government or political party, either foreign or domestic,” wrote a spokesperson for Sagemont Preparatory Schools in an emailed statement. “Our curriculum is accredited, standards-based and academically rigorous.”
Sagemont Preparatory School’s upper and lower campuses in Weston were two of the schools named by DeSantis in a Friday evening press release. They’re joined by two Park Maitland schools in Winter Park.
DeSantis, a candidate in the Republican presidential primary, says he directed the Florida Department of Education to take action after a “thorough” investigation found CCP ties that “constitute an imminent threat to the health, safety, and welfare of these school’s students and the public.”
“The Chinese Communist Party is not welcome in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said. “We will not put up with any attempt to influence students with a communist ideology or allow Floridians’ tax dollars to go to schools that are connected to our foreign adversaries.”
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