A home subscription to Epic runs $7.99 a month.

“Epic is still out there, and families can use it as they see fit, though they’ll most likely be charged.”īoth services are free for teachers to use, but they offer paid memberships for families. “We thought it was best at this point to pull access to that through school equipment,” Bruhn said. Epic continually updates its library, making it difficult for the district to review the materials. Homeschooled students double: Rise in homeschooling threatens Brevard Public School funds and possibly education qualityįlorida's book bans: Which titles are being pulled from school media centers?Įpic posed a particular problem to PBS Bruhn said because media specialists must review all library books under a state law passed in March. Parents may have to purchase memberships to continue to access the same services. The decision has frustrated some parents and teachers who said the services helped engage young learners at no cost to the district, and that students used the websites for additional learning after class. Public schools spokesman Russell Bruhn said the district stopped allowing teachers to use Epic, a library system boasting about 40,000 titles for young readers, and Prodigy, an online game in which students play as wizards engaging in math battles, because it did not have the capability to properly vet the websites per Florida legislation passed this spring regulating how schools choose instructional material.Ī law signed in March re training for school district staff who select instructional materials and library books, lays out requirements for schools to allow families to object to materials and mandates districts to adopt detailed policies and guidelines governing the selection of materials. An earlier headline was incorrect.īrevard Public Schools has removed access to two popular free online services – a math game and an online library for children 12 and under – saying it could not continue using them due to increased legislative oversight on instructional materials. Click here and subscribe today.Įditor’s Note: Brevard took action in response to the HB 1467, a K-12 Education law, not the Parental Bill of Rights, which critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Watch Video: Florida's 'Parental Rights in Education' bill explained

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