
Education Department files cease and desist complaint against Florida over mask-related school funding
CNN
The US Department of Education filed a complaint Thursday against Florida's Education Department for its decision to reduce funding for certain school districts amid an ongoing battle over school mask mandate policies.
The federal department alleged in the complaint filed with its Office of Administrative Law Judges that Florida's Education Department "has unlawfully -- and explicitly -- reduced the amount of state aid provided to Florida school districts based on their receipt of federal funds. It has done so as part of a broader effort to deter those districts from implementing practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)."
Jared Ochs, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education, said in a statement to CNN that the federal government "is acting unlawfully and they have yet to respond to the substance of our prior response," referencing an October 13 letter from Florida's education commissioner.