A coalition of news organizations and a press freedom group have penned a letter to Orange County Public Schools, urging district leadership to revise a policy it has for employee communications with the media.
The June 8 letter — signed by the Orlando Sentinel, Oviedo Community News, Vox Populi, The Apopka Chief and the Society for Professional Journalists, among others — argues the media policy, as is, “hinders newsgathering, restricts employees’ speech, and reduces public transparency.” The letter is directed to OCPS superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez.
The district’s media policy, last amended in July 2025, requires school district employees to contact a dedicated media spokesperson for the district before talking to a reporter themselves.
The letter from news organizations (note: Orlando Weekly is not a signatory) argues this employee directive chills free speech rights, delays the gathering and publication of news and disrupts the flow of information to the community.
“A more balanced approach — one that protects transparency while addressing legitimate operational needs — would better serve Orange County Public Schools, its employees, and the surrounding community,” the letter reads.
“We welcome your response and the opportunity to meet to discuss a revised policy that suggests, rather than requires, that District employees loop in the PIO [public information officer] on media inquiries — shifting from a prior-approval requirement to a notice-based approach that allows for coordination without restricting speech.”
The coalition’s letter was prepared by the Florida State University College of Law First Amendment Clinic, according to the Apopka Chief. The call-to-action is part of the Society for Professional Journalists’ “Gagged” project — an initiative that aims to shine a spotlight on government policies that restrict press freedoms and a reasonable flow of pertinent information to the public.
“A public agency may decide to authorize only certain employees to speak officially on its behalf, but that does not mean it can censor everyone else who works for the agency from talking with reporters,” said Caroline Hendrie, executive director of SPJ, in a statement. “It is past time for leaders of government agencies at all levels — school districts among them — to show they reject such misguided gag rules and respect their employees’ right to free speech.”
Orange County Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in Florida serving more than 200,000 students, disputed the coalition’s framing in its own response. “Orange County Public Schools fully recognizes and respects the vital role of a free press,” the district argued in a letter shared with Orlando Weekly Tuesday morning.
“Our procedures are not intended to suppress speech or limit transparency, but rather to ensure that information shared on behalf of the district is accurate, consistent, and does not disrupt our primary mission of educating students.”
The district argued that its policy for employee communications with reporters is meant to minimize school disruptions, ensure that information shared in an official district capacity is “factual and complete,” and protect student confidentiality.
The coalition of news organizations, however, cited two examples of how the district’s media policy has hindered reporters’ ability to disseminate information to the public about the school system.
— The letter cites one example where an Orange County school employee, after sharing “basic” information with a reporter, “quickly regretted it, saying “[the] press department would eat [him/her] alive” if he/she “accidentally crossed a line.”
— The letter alleges that school officials also “acknowledged” that a teacher would be prohibited from sharing information about a school band concert with the press, due to the media policy, even though that information was not confidential and had already been “freely shared” by students with parents, neighbors and friends.
“Multiple media outlets have also been flatly denied access to the superintendent,” the letter adds.
The coalition urged OCPS to consider suggesting, rather than requiring, school district employees to “loop” official district spokespeople into conversations with press. The coalition also asked OCPS to ensure its policy makes it clear that employees won’t be disciplined for talking to the press, and communicate that employees have the right to speak as private citizens on matters of public concern — outside their capacity as district employees — under their First Amendment rights to free speech.
Reporters on an education beat (i.e., whose job is to report on education-related issues) may seek to speak with school employees about issues ranging from behavioral problems among students to falling grades and reading levels to teacher pay not keeping up with rising living costs, and other challenges such as declines in student enrollment that prompt the district to close schools and shed staff.
Clinton McCracken, an art teacher and president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association, told Orlando Weekly in a statement that their union supports efforts to create greater transparency and fairness.
“Educators are often expected to remain silent on issues that directly impact their profession, their students and their working conditions,” he acknowledged, adding that “the public has the right to hear directly from educators who have firsthand knowledge of what is happening inside our schools without fear of censorship and retaliation.”
Teachers, he explained, may worry that speaking openly about their jobs could affect their evaluations and their ability to retain their job, or even affect future job opportunities in the district. “Healthy public institutions require openness, accountability, and the willingness to hear from employees, families, and community members most impacted by district decisions. Educators deserve the same opportunity to be heard as any other stakeholder in this community.”
The Orange County school district noted in its response to the coalition’s letter that the district is “committed” to reviewing its current procedures “to ensure they are clearly understood and appropriately applied.”
The district also committed to providing “timely responses” to the media, reinforcing media training for staff (so they feel “confident and supported” in talking to press), and engaging with media professionals to “strengthen our working relationship.”
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