Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, declared on Friday that state educational scholarships will no longer be provided to four private schools, citing their alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The officials of one of these institutions have refuted such affiliations, claiming no connections to any exterior governments.
The schools in question – Lower and Upper Sagemont Preparatory Schools near Fort Lauderdale, along with Parke House Academy and Park Maitland School in Winter Park near Orlando – were reportedly found to have CCP links by the Florida Department of Education, as per a communication from the Governor’s office. Notably, Park House Academy has now merged with Park Maitland School, and operates under the name Park Maitland South.
In his statement, Governor DeSantis was clear about his stance, asserting that any form of communist influence is unwelcome in Florida, and that taxpayer funding will not be used to support schools with alleged ties to foreign opposition.
The decision has a potential impact on the state’s growing conservative school choice program, which was expanded in March to offer approximately $8,500 in vouchers for all K-12 students, including those already enrolled in private institutions.
Cailey Myers, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education, highlighted that the schools in question are owned by Spring Education Group, which according to the schools’ own websites, is managed by Primavera Holdings Limited, a Hong Kong-based firm with significant operations in China, Singapore, and the US, and owned by Chinese residents in Hong Kong.
According to its website, Spring Education Group operates a network of 220 private schools across 19 states in the US, along with several others in Asia.
Through an email disseminated to USA TODAY, Sagemont’s principal Mellesia Nelson expressed that the school had not been alerted prior to the decision, and they are currently coordinating with parents to ensure education continuity.
“Our organization is frequently acquainted as one of the top cloistered schools in our locality and we have a established track record of delivering bright educational results, which is why parents entrust us with their children’s education,” Nelson quantified in her email. ” Our program is accredited, based on values, and offers a rigorous academic challenge.”
Park Maitland Schools did not respond to request for a comment.
In the press release, DeSantis takes pride in other steps he has taken to combat the Chinese Communist Party within Florida. As a potential Republican presidential nominee, he has consistently highlighted this throughout his campaign.
Here are some additional steps DeSantis has taken in his anti-China stance.
DeSantis’s Presidential Campaign Against the Chinese Communist Party
- As the first point in DeSantis’s 10-point economic plan released by his campaign, he described the U.S.’s relationship with the CCP as “exploitative.” He pledged to revoke China’s preferential trade status and prohibit American companies from selling strategic assets to CCP members in the plan.
- In March 2023, DeSantis told Fox News Host Tucker Carlson that “curtailing the economic, cultural, and military influence of the Chinese Communist Party,” should take precedence over assisting to Ukraine.
- At a state fair campaign event in Iowa, he stated, “China is mocking us.” Demonstrators disturbed his informal conversation with Gov. Kim Reynolds.
DeSantis Endorses Bill Limiting Property Ownership by Chinese Nationals in Florida
Before officially declaring his presidential candidacy, DeSantis signed SB 264, precluding persons associated with the CCP and people “residing” in China, excluding U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, from purchasing property in Florida.
“Florida has emerged as a pioneer in combating the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),” stated Governor DeSantis during a recent public address. The newly enacted law imposes property ownership restrictions on individuals from countries like Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, and China. This legislation is currently under legal dispute, following a lawsuit launched by some Chinese Florida residents and a real estate agency. However, despite the trial, a federal judge dismissed a temporary injunction, keeping the law in force. Ashley Gorski, a Senior Staff Attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union National Security Project, expressed concern, describing the law as one that “[perpetuates and magnifies housing discrimination](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/08/17/florida-law-restricts-property-ownership-people-seven-countries/70615371007/).”
Florida’s Continued Actions Against CCP Influence
Gov. DeSantis boasted of additional steps aiming to counter the CCP’s sway. These include:
- Applying a ban on TikTok on government devices.
- Restricting state colleges and universities from forging any agreements or accepting donations from Chinese educational institutions. This new law, effective from December 1, may restrict dual degree programs, overseas study opportunities, and recruitment drives.
- Prohibition of Confucius Institutes, Chinese-government-run educational programs, had been urged by Sen. Marco Rubio since 2018, over their ties to the CCP.
