Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reportedly announced a new partnership with Turning Point USA to promote the formation of conservative student organizations in high schools across the state, pledging state support for students who wish to start chapters of the youth group founded by the late Charlie Kirk.
Speaking at an Oct. 27 press conference in Sarasota, DeSantis said the effort would encourage civic participation and free expression among Florida’s students, promising swift state intervention if any school officials obstruct the initiative.
“You’re starting to see more young people take an interest and be educated, and now they want to get involved,” DeSantis said. “So they’ve had a huge groundswell of interest ever since that tragic day.”
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was slain in early September. His death sparked tributes nationwide and renewed calls from educators and lawmakers to strengthen civics education and protect free speech—particularly for conservative students who say their views are often marginalized on campus.
While DeSantis’s office has not released details about what the partnership entails, the governor’s press secretary, Molly Best, described it as “a new initiative” and said more information would follow. She also pointed to a related civics effort in which the winner of “the Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate” at Florida’s upcoming Civics and Debate Initiative State Championship will receive $50,000 and a trophy named in Kirk’s honor—an effort, she said, meant to “underscore the critical importance of teaching students the value of respectful debate.”
Education Commissioner Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas joined DeSantis at the announcement, reinforcing the administration’s stance that Florida schools must safeguard viewpoint diversity. He warned that state authorities would act decisively if educators blocked student efforts to organize.
“If you try to serve as an obstacle, if you are a hurdle, if you get in the way of any student or teacher [who wants to] start a Turning Point USA chapter, you will be met with the full force of the law,” Kamoutsas said. He added that the lessons of Kirk’s assassination demanded “accountability” and a renewed focus on civil discourse.
According to its website, Turning Point USA operates roughly 100 chapters across Florida high schools, colleges, and universities. Every major public university in the state hosts a chapter except for Florida A&M University. Following Kirk’s death, Florida lawmakers have proposed naming roads after him, and New College of Florida announced plans to erect a statue in his memory.
DeSantis has long positioned Florida as a national model for free expression on campuses, arguing that state policies are meant to ensure intellectual diversity and parental rights.
Critics, however, contend that measures restricting classroom instruction on gender identity and limiting minors’ social media access stifle certain viewpoints.
In Sarasota, DeSantis dismissed those criticisms, saying Florida “will not tolerate any discrimination” in its schools, including efforts to prevent students from forming Turning Point chapters.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier echoed that position in a September video posted to X, warning that schools blocking such clubs could face legal action. “This is discriminatory. It’s wrong, and we will not stand for it,” Uthmeier said. “Our AG’s Office of parental rights will be bringing legal action where necessary to ensure that we are protecting the rights of students to organize, associate, and engage in speech and debate.”
April Carney, vice chair of the Duval County School Board, said parents had reported difficulties finding faculty sponsors for Turning Point chapters, calling it “a violation of the First Amendment to say, ‘No, I am not willing to sponsor.’”
With the new initiative, DeSantis signaled his administration’s commitment to promoting civic engagement and ensuring that Florida students—especially conservatives—can freely express their beliefs without institutional barriers.
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