• Florida education officials voted on Wednesday to prohibit virtually any classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in all public school grades, expanding on a law signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that barred such lessons for younger students.
• The new rule, which does not require legislative approval, is part of a broader rightward push on cultural issues championed by DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president in 2024.
• Dozens of speakers offered public comment for nearly an hour, with most opposed to the measure, before the unanimous vote to approve it by the state board of education, whose members are appointed by the governor.

Tagged: Schools