DeSantis Bans Schools From Scholarship Program Over Alleged China Ties

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) recently directed the Florida Department of Education to suspend four schools from the state’s school-choice scholarship program over their alleged "direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party."

The Details: DeSantis didn't give evidence for his claim, but the four schools advertise themselves as being part of the Spring Education Network, a Chinese-owned network of over 230 private schools.

Key Quotes: The connections between the schools and China's government "constitute an imminent threat to the health, safety, and welfare of these school’s students and the public," DeSantis's office said in a statement. "Our schools are locally run, abide by local, state and federal laws, and do not have ties to any government or political party, either foreign or domestic," a statement from two of the schools read.

How the Media Covered It: Right-rated sources tended to frame the schools' ties to China with more concern. Some left-rated sources framed the connections as less controversial because the school websites advertise their ties to China. The Daily Beast (Left bias) said the move "appears comically baseless" and lamented how some "students whose families seek financial assistance will no longer have that help." National Review (Right bias) detailed other efforts by DeSantis to counter Chinese Communist Party influence in Florida, such as a bill he signed that prohibits "any school affiliated with a 'foreign country of concern' from participating in Florida’s school-choice scholarship programs."