Section 1002.22, Florida Statutes, and Osceola County School Board Rule 5.70 – Student Records provide Osceola parents the right to the student records of the parent’s minor child, including the right of access, right of waiver of access, right to challenge and hearing, and right of privacy. 

• Osceola County parents can access many school records for the parent’s minor child on the Focus Parent Portal, including current year attendance, class schedules, grades, discipline, standardized test scores, report cards and online forms.
• Students who are actively enrolled or recently graduated should contact the student’s schools for the student’s records. 
• Parents can access more information on student records and how to access these records on the Records Management website.

Osceola County parents receive annual notification of open enrollment for School Choice options at the following School District websites:

• School District’s Department of Educational Choices and Innovations
• My Osceola Choice

Osceola County parents may access information about Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES EO) Program at the following Florida Department of Education website and within the FES EO Notification Form linked below:

• Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES EO) Program
• FES EO Notification Form

Section 1002.22, Florida Statutes, and Osceola County School Board Rule 5.70 – Student Records provide Osceola parents the right to the student records of the parent’s minor child, including the right of access, right of waiver of access, right to challenge and hearing, and right of privacy. 

Osceola parents have the right to access and review all medical records of the parent’s minor child, unless prohibited by law, or if the parent is the subject of an investigation of a crime committed against the minor child, and a law enforcement agency or official requests that the information not be released.

Section 1002.20(3)(b), Florida Statutes, and Section 1003.22(5), Florida Statutes, permit parents to exempt the parent’s minor child from school immunization requirements upon meeting the requirements for exemption established within state law.

Osceola County parents can find additional information on immunization requirements on the School District’s Department of Student Services website.

Please contact the Osceola County Health Department for more information on immunizations and immunization exemptions at 407-343-2000.

Osceola County parents have the right to be notified of all health care services offered at school of the parent’s minor child and given the opportunity to consent or decline each service for the parent’s minor child. 

Osceola County parents can access the letter that provides a list of the health care services available and can review the options and decline any services for the parent's minor child.

SDOC Student Health Care Services Parent Opt In/ Out Letter (English)

SDOC Student Health Care Services Parent Opt In/ Out Letter (Spanish)

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Programs

Osceola County parents, guardians, and school staff may request students for evaluation for the ESE program in Kindergarten through Grade 12 at any time during the school year. 

A list of eligibility criteria and required student evaluations for all available ESE programs can be found in the current Osceola County Exceptional Student Education Policies and Procedures (P&P) document on the School District’s Department of Exceptional Student Education website.

Gifted Education Program

Osceola County parents, guardians, and school staff may refer students for evaluation for the gifted education program in Kindergarten through Grade 12 at any time during the school year.

Osceola County parents may access additional information on the Gifted Education Program Information website.

Osceola County parents can view a list of currently adopted instructional materials (e.g., textbooks) on the School District’s Instructional Materials website.

Osceola County parents can access the digital resources for the parent’s minor child on the School District’s Media and Instructional Technology website.

Osceola County parents who have a question or a concern regarding a learning task, reading assignment, or other curriculum material may submit a request for review on the School District’s Curriculum Review website.

Parents may also view the Media Center catalog for the School District and each school by:

1. Selecting "Media Center" and "View Our Catalog" on each school's website (e.g., School Websites); or
2. Accessing the School District’s Destiny Database website and selecting the links for the school and the school’s media center/ library catalog.

Osceola County parents are empowered to select the level of access to school media center collections each year for the parent's minor child.   

• Unlimited (The student has full access, and mature content may be involved.);  
• Limited (The student may check out books in the media center, but nothing involving mature content.); or
• No Access (The student is not permitted to check out books from the school media center.).

The parents' selection will be recorded in Destiny, the School District’s library book circulation system.  

The School District shall add a label to any book in the media center with mature content.

Parents may view the Media Center catalog for the School District and each school by:

1. Selecting "Media Center" and "View Our Catalog" on each school's website (e.g., School Websites); or
2. Accessing the School District’s Destiny Database website and selecting the links for the school and the school’s media center/ library catalog.

Osceola County parents can access and view the instructional materials used in the School District’s reproductive health and disease curriculum on the School District's Health and Disease Education website.

Section 1003.42, Florida Statutes, permits parents to exempt the parent’s minor child from the teaching of reproductive health or any disease, including HIV/AIDS.

Parents who wish to exempt the parent’s minor child from participating in reproductive health and disease instruction, including instruction relating to HIV/AIDS, can make a written request to the school principal for the parent’s minor child.

SDOC Health and Disease Education Parent Opt In/ Out Letters

Osceola parents can access test results for the parent’s minor child within the Focus Parent Portal.

To create your own Parent Portal account, click here to view instructions.

To request a new password, click here to view instructions.

Florida statewide assessment results can also be viewed on the state’s Family Portal.

Osceola County parents can access School District policies for promotion, retention, and high school graduation requirements in the Osceola County Student Progression Plan.

Osceola County parents can access grades for the parent’s minor child within the Focus Parent Portal.

To create your own Parent Portal account, click here to view instructions.

To request a new password, click here to view instructions.

Parents can access District Grades and School Grades on the Florida Department of Education’s Florida School Accountability Reports website.

Osceola County parents can access attendance requirements in the Osceola County Code of Student Conduct.

The School District of Osceola County’s curriculum complies with state law and follows the state-adopted Florida Standards.

Osceola County parents can access information relating to the state public education system and state standards at the links below:

• State Standards
• Attendance Requirements
• Instructional Materials Requirements

Osceola County parents can communicate and cooperate with teacher of the parent’s minor child through the Focus Parent Portal to send a message by e-mail.  Please allow twenty-four (24) hours, excluding non-workdays, for a response.

Section 1002.23, Florida Statutes and Osceola County School Board Rule 2.261 – Family and School Partnership for Student Achievement provide the right of a parent to participate in parent-teacher associations and organizations that are sanctioned by a district school board or the Florida Department of Education.

Each school website and/ or social media page has more information about how to get involved in School Advisory Councils and other school-based organizations.

• Osceola County School Board Rule 2.30 – School Advisory Councils
  • The School Advisory Council (SAC) is a school-based group required by state law and intended to share responsibility for guiding the school toward continuous improvement.  
  • Each School Advisory Council shall be composed of the principal and an appropriately balanced number of teachers, education support employees, students, parents, and other business and community citizens who are representative of the community served by the school.
• Osceola County School Board Rule 9.10 – Parent Organizations and School Support Groups
  • Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO) are school-based groups that support the school in which it serves.

Osceola parents can find specific information on athletics, extracurricular activities, and student clubs and organizations offered at each Osceola County school on each school’s website.

• School Websites

Osceola parents can access the School District's policy regarding extracurricular activities at:

• Osceola County School Board Rule 4.40 – Extracurricular Program

Osceola parents can access the School District's policy regarding student clubs and organizations at:

• Osceola County School Board Rule 4.50 – Student Clubs and Organizations

In addition, Osceola County parents can access more information about any specific field trips, extracurricular activities, and supplemental programs scheduled on the school website for the school of the parent's minor child (e.g., School Websites).

Florida's State Board of Education 6A-10.085 Field Trips, Extracurricular Activities, and Other Supplemental Programs and Activities requires that:

• School District policies must:
  • Be consistent with the Parents' Bill of Rights created under Chapter 1014, Florida Statutes;
  • Protect the privacy of educational records, per Section 1002.22, Florida Statutes, as well as the privacy interests of all students and parents;
  • Provide for parental notification to fully inform parents of the details of field trips, extracurricular activities, and supplemental programs.

Please see also the section on this website entitled "Learn about Field Trips."

Osceola County parents can access the School District's policy regarding field trips at:

• Osceola County School Board Rule 4.43 – Field Trips

In addition, Osceola County parents shall receive more information about any specific field trips, extracurricular activities, and supplemental programs scheduled from the school of the parent's minor child (e.g., School Websites).

Florida's State Board of Education 6A-10.085 Field Trips, Extracurricular Activities, and Other Supplemental Programs and Activities requires that:

• School District policies must:
  • Be consistent with the Parents' Bill of Rights created under Chapter 1014, Florida Statutes;
  • Protect the privacy of educational records, per Section 1002.22, Florida Statutes, as well as the privacy interests of all students and parents;
  • Provide for parental notification to fully inform parents of the details of field trips, extracurricular activities, and supplemental programs.
• School District procedures must:
  • Require signed parent or guardian permission forms for field trips that include, at a minimum, the following information:

1. The nature of the field trip;
2. The date(s) and time(s) of the field trip;
3. Specific location(s) and type(s) of establishment(s) to be visited;
4. Mode(s) of transportation;
5. Method of student supervision provided, such as anticipated number of chaperones; and
6. Whether room assignments for overnight lodging are not separated by biological sex at birth.

• Include accommodations or modifications for overnight lodging, if part of the field trip, in order to ensure that all eligible students have the opportunity to participate in the field trip.

Osceola County parents have the opportunity to opt out of district-level data collection that is not required by law for the parent’s minor child at any time.

Osceola County parents may request, in writing, information regarding the topics from this website.  Within ten (10) days, the Superintendent shall provide such information to the parent.

If the Superintendent denies a parent’s request for information or does not respond to the parent’s request within ten (10) days, then the parent may appeal to the Osceola County School Board at (407) 870-4600.

The Osceola County School Board shall then place a parent’s appeal on the agenda for its next public meeting.  If it is too late for parent’s appeal to appear on the next agenda, then the appeal shall be included on the agenda for the subsequent meeting.

For more information, the Florida Department of Education has created the Parental Rights website to help navigate the avenues available to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our students.

Osceola parents may access more information about requesting a special magistrate for specific unresolved student welfare complaints on the Florida Department of Education's Special Magistrate Requests website.

 •  Related state law defines this parental right:

    >  Section 1001.42(8)(c)1.-6., Florida Statutes

    >  State Board of Education Rule 6A-1.094125 – Special Magistrate for Unresolved Student Welfare Complaints

    >  State Board of Education Rule 6A-6.0791 –  Special Magistrate for Unresolved Student Welfare Complaints at Charter Schools]

•  Osceola County School Board Rules define the School District's related procedures:

    >  2.262 – Student Welfare Complaint Resolution

    >  2.263 – Student Welfare Complaint Resolution – Charter Schools

•  Before making this request, Osceola parents must attempt to resolve the dispute at the school level first and then at the School District level (or Charter School Board, if applicable). 

•  Osceola parents may only request a special magistrate to resolve disputes for specific unresolved student welfare concerns that are defined in state law (and listed on the forms below).

•  A Special Magistrate is not available to resolve disputes alleging a violation of the educational rights of a student with a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) and corresponding state requirements.  Instead, please see State Board of Education Rule 6A-603311 – Procedural Safeguards and Due Process Procedures for Parents and Students with Disabilities for the separate process to resolve these types of disputes.

•  The State Board of Education may reject the parent's request for a special magistrate.

•  The required forms to make the request are below:

   >  Request for Appointment of a Special Magistrate Form, Traditional Schools

   >  Request for Appointment of a Special Magistrate Form, Charter Schools

Background

In 2022, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 7 – Individual Freedom.  Governor DeSantis signed this legislation into law on April 22, 2022, and the new law became effective July 01, 2022. 

Civil Rights in Employment and K-20 Education

This legislation amends Section 760.10 – Unlawful employment practices, Florida Statutes, to state:

(8)(a) Subjecting any individual, as a condition of employment, membership, certification, licensing, credentialing, or passing an examination, to training, instruction, or any other required activity that espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels such individual to believe any of the following concepts constitutes discrimination based on race, color, sex, or national origin under this section:

1. Members of one race, color, sex, or national origin are morally superior to members of another race, color, sex, or national origin.
2. An individual, by virtue of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously.
3. An individual’s moral character or status as either privileged or oppressed is necessarily determined by his or her race, color, sex, or national origin.
4. Members of one race, color, sex, or national origin cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race, color, sex, or national origin.
5. An individual, by virtue of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin, bears responsibility for, or should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of, actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, sex, or national origin.
6. An individual, by virtue of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin, should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment to achieve diversity, equity, or inclusion.
7. An individual, by virtue of his or her race, color, sex, or national origin, bears personal responsibility for and must feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress because of actions, in which the individual played no part, committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, sex, or national origin.
8. Such virtues as merit, excellence, hard work, fairness, neutrality, objectivity, and racial colorblindness are racist or sexist, or were created by members of a particular race, color, sex, or national origin to oppress members of another race, color, sex, or national origin.

(b) Paragraph (a) may not be construed to prohibit discussion of the concepts listed therein as part of a course of training or instruction, provided such training or instruction is given in an objective manner without endorsement of the concepts.

Required Instruction

In addition, this legislation amends Section 1003.42 – Required instruction, Florida Statutes, to state:

(3) The Legislature acknowledges the fundamental truth that all persons are equal before the law and have inalienable rights.  Accordingly, instruction and supporting materials on the topics enumerated in this section must be consistent with the following principles of individual freedom:

(a) No person is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex.

(b) No race is inherently superior to another race.

(c) No person should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, or sex.

(d) Meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are not racist but fundamental to the right to pursue happiness and be rewarded for industry.

(e) A person, by virtue of his or her race or sex, does not bear responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex.

(f) A person should not be instructed that he or she must feel guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress for actions, in which he or she played no part, committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex.

Instructional personnel may facilitate discussions and use curricula to address, in an age-appropriate manner, how the freedoms of persons have been infringed by sexism, slavery, racial oppression, racial segregation, and racial discrimination, including topics relating to the enactment and enforcement of laws resulting in sexism, racial oppression, racial segregation, and racial discrimination, including how recognition of these freedoms have overturned these unjust laws. However, classroom instruction and curriculum may not be used to indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view inconsistent with the principles of this subsection or state academic standards.

Safety in Private Spaces Act