Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran, who battled mask mandates and critical race theory, announced he will step down from his position at the end of April, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Education.
“Richard has been a champion for students and families, and a great leader of the Department of Education,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “He is driven by his principles and has never shied away from making the difficult decisions needed to improve the quality of education in Florida. During his tenure, both in the House and at the Department, our state has become an education juggernaut and national leader for innovation. We wish him well and thank him for his service.”
Corcoran praised DeSantis in the announcement. “Like the rest of the nation, Florida’s school districts have had to weather some of the greatest difficulties they have ever experienced over the past two years, and I couldn’t think of a better governor to serve.”
During Corcoran’s tenure, the state department of education clashed with districts in the state and with the U.S. Department of Education over restrictions on mask mandates in schools. The state board of education fined several counties that implemented the mask mandates in fall 2021 despite a prohibition against such mandates issued by the state health department, and the federal education department stepped in with an option to provide federal funds to offset the fines in the affected districts. The districts eventually dropped their mask mandates following a new state department of health rule.
The news release indicates Corcoran will return to private life with his family. There is no word yet on a successor.
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