Back to Florida

SB0486 • 2026

Discrimination in Education

Discrimination in Education

Children Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Polsky
Last action
2026-03-13
Official status
Senate - Died in Education Pre-K - 12
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status indicates it did not become law as it died in committee.

Discrimination in Education

This bill requires school districts and colleges/universities to appoint a Title VI coordinator who will handle complaints of discrimination and ensure compliance with the Civil Rights Act.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires each district school board to designate a Title VI coordinator.
  • Allows individuals, including parents for their children, to file discrimination complaints with either the superintendent or the Title VI coordinator in schools.
  • Requires Florida College System institutions and state universities to also appoint a Title VI coordinator.
  • Specifies that these coordinators must provide training on anti-discrimination laws and maintain records of all complaints and actions taken.

Who It Names or Affects

  • School districts in Florida
  • Florida College System institutions and state universities

Terms To Know

Title VI coordinator
A person appointed by school boards or educational institutions to handle complaints of discrimination and ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
Civil Rights Act
A federal law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass all stages of the legislative process and died in committee.
  • Implementation details will depend on rules adopted by educational boards.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-13 Senate

    • Died in Education Pre-K - 12

  2. 2026-01-13 Senate

    • Introduced

  3. 2025-12-01 Senate

    • Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Education Postsecondary; Rules

  4. 2025-11-13 Senate

    • Filed

Official Summary Text

Discrimination in Education; Requiring each district school board to designate a Title VI coordinator; authorizing a person alleging discrimination to file a complaint with the district school superintendent or the Title VI coordinator; authorizing a parent or guardian to submit a complaint on behalf of a minor child; requiring each Florida College System institution and state university to designate a Title VI coordinator, etc.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Florida Senate
-
2026

SB 486

By
Senator Polsky

30-00314B-26 2026486__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to discrimination in education;
3 amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; requiring each district
4 school board to designate a Title VI coordinator;
5 specifying requirements for and duties of the
6 coordinator; authorizing a person alleging
7 discrimination to file a complaint with the district
8 school superintendent or the Title VI coordinator;
9 authorizing a parent or guardian to submit a complaint
10 on behalf of a minor child; requiring the State Board
11 of Education to adopt rules; creating s. 1004.041,
12 F.S.; requiring each Florida College System
13 institution and state university to designate a Title
14 VI coordinator; specifying requirements for and duties
15 of the coordinator; authorizing a person alleging
16 discrimination to file a complaint with the dean of
17 students or the Title VI coordinator; authorizing a
18 parent or guardian to submit a complaint on behalf of
19 a minor child; requiring the State Board of Education
20 and Board of Governors to adopt rules and regulations,
21 respectively; providing an effective date.
22
23 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
24
25 Section 1. Present subsection (29) of section 1001.42,
26 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (30), and a new
27 subsection (29) is added to that section, to read:
28 1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The
29 district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all
30 powers and perform all duties listed below:
31
(29)
TITLE VI COORDINATOR
.—

32
(a) Each district school board shall designate a Title VI

33
coordinator. The coordinator shall:

34
1. Have expertise in and oversee compliance with Title VI

35
of the Civil Rights Act of
1964
and compliance
with

s.
1000.05
.

36
2. Promote equal access to and participation in the

37
programs and activities of the institution.

38
3. Provide training and educational resources regarding

39
Title VI law and regulations
, including
,
at a minimum
,
those who

40
are responsible for receiving reports on potential Title VI

41
complaints
.

42
4. Maintain records and reports related to Title VI

43
compliance
, including a summary of the allegations, the

44
complainant’s protected category, the disposition of the

45
complaint, and the corrective actions taken
,
so that the Title

46
VI coordinator can assess compliance
.

47
5.
Provide advice and consultation on supportive and

48
corrective measures
.

49
6. Perform any other relevant duty established by the

50
institution.

51
(b)1. A person alleging discrimination in violation of

52
Title VI may file a complaint with the district school

53
superintendent or the Title VI coordinator of the school

54
district.

55
2. A parent or guardian may submit a complaint on behalf of

56
his or her minor child.

57
(c) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to

58
implement this subsection.

59 Section 2. Section 1004.041, Florida Statutes, is created
60 to read:
61
1004.041
Title VI coordinator
.—

62
(1) Each Florida College System institution and state

63
university shall designate a Title VI coordinator. The

64
coordinator shall:

65
(a) Have expertise in and oversee compliance with Title VI

66
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
and compliance with s. 1000.05
.

67
(b) Promote equal access to and participation in the

68
programs and activities of the institution.

69
(c) Provide training and educational resources regarding

70
Title VI law and regulations
, including, at a minimum, those who

71
are responsible for receiving reports on potential Title VI

72
complaints.

73
(d) Maintain records and reports related to Title VI

74
compliance
, including a summary of the allegations, the

75
complainant’s protected category, the disposition of the

76
complaint, and the corrective actions taken, so that the Title

77
VI coordinator can assess compliance.

78
(e)
Provide advice and consultation on supportive and

79
corrective measures
.

80
(f) Perform any other relevant duty established by the

81
institution.

82
(2)(a) A person alleging discrimination in violation of

83
Title VI may file a complaint with the college’s or university’s

84
dean of students or Title VI coordinator.

85
(b) A parent or guardian may submit a complaint on behalf

86
of his or her minor child.

87
(3) The State Board of Education and Board of Governors

88
shall adopt rules and regulations, respectively, to implement

89
this section.

90 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.