Florida school security camera law

Can Florida schools record video without parental consent?

Parents have a right to consent in writing before the state or a political subdivision, such as a school district, makes a video or voice recording of their minor child, subject to listed exceptions. One exception lets public bodies, including school districts, record children without that consent for security or surveillance of buildings or grounds. Another covers recordings that keep order and discipline in school common areas or on student transportation vehicles.

What was the Broward classroom camera pilot?

Florida created a Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program for 3 school years starting with 2021-2022. The pilot applied only to Broward County Public Schools. Under the pilot, the district had to provide a video camera to a school with a self-contained special-education classroom when a parent asked in writing. The camera had to be working within 30 days after the parent's request. The pilot did not apply to classrooms where the only special-education students are gifted. Senate staff report that Broward ran the pilot for three years beginning in 2021. House staff describe the pilot as concluded and report that Broward had about 300 cameras by its end. Senate staff report that, after the pilot, the Broward County School Board adopted its own board policy to continue classroom cameras.

What limits did the pilot set on placement, audio and retention?

Pilot cameras had to be able to record audio from all areas of the self-contained classroom. Pilot cameras could not monitor restrooms or areas where students change clothes. Schools had to give written notice before first placing a pilot camera in a classroom. Recordings had to be kept at least 3 months and then deleted, unless kept for an investigation or proceeding. Schools could not allow regular or continuous monitoring of pilot recordings.

Who could view pilot recordings?

Within 7 days of a request, schools had to let listed individuals view pilot recordings. A law enforcement officer investigating a reported incident shown in the recording was one of them. Release or viewing had to follow Florida's student-records statute, s. 1002.22. Schools had to conceal the identities of uninvolved students in recordings shown to viewers.

Does Florida limit facial recognition in schools?

Education agencies and institutions may not collect, obtain or retain biometric information of a student, parent or sibling. The statute's examples of biometric information include a facial geometry scan. Parents also have a right to consent in writing before a biometric scan of their minor child is made, shared or stored.

Is school camera footage a public record?

Under Florida's public records law, a security system plan includes records and audio or visual presentations that reveal security systems. Security system plans for public property are confidential and exempt from public disclosure. House staff report that a state appeals court held a school bus surveillance video to be a confidential, exempt student education record, even with identifying information redacted (WFTV, Inc. v. School Board of Seminole County).

How do security assessments treat cameras?

The Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool (FSSAT) is the required primary physical site security assessment tool for school districts and public schools. The FSSAT must address physical security measures; the statute does not name cameras. House staff report that the Department of Education's Florida Safe School Design Guidelines recommend video camera surveillance of areas including entry points and the building perimeter.

How can schools pay for cameras?

Florida's 2026-27 budget appropriates $20,000,000 in general revenue for public school hardening; the line was not vetoed. That money goes to the School Hardening Grant program, to improve school building security based on each school's FSSAT security risk assessment. Grant funds may be used only for capital improvements. District applications are due to the Department of Education by February 1, 2027. Districts and charter schools that receive grant funds must report their unmet campus hardening costs to the Department by December 31, 2026. The Department's grant application lists video surveillance among example eligible expenditures. To qualify, an item must be listed as a need in the school's current FSSAT assessment. The 2026-27 budget also funds a $1,000,000 ZeroEyes firearm detection project for Miami-Dade; the Governor vetoed the Franklin, Hernando and Seminole ZeroEyes items. Subject to appropriation, the Department of Education must run a security-hardening funding program for full-time Jewish day schools and preschools. The program's listed uses include buying and installing security cameras.

What camera bills have failed recently?

2025 HB 257 would have required certain district school boards to vote on a policy to provide cameras in self-contained classrooms on parent request. It was indefinitely postponed and withdrawn in the Senate. 2026 HB 859 would have required district school boards to set a policy on video cameras in self-contained classrooms; it died in Senate Rules. Its Senate companion, SB 1170, died in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education on March 13, 2026.