ORLANDO, Fla. – As students head back to school, parents are deciding who should be directing what happens in the classroom.

More than 40 candidates are running for school board positions across Central Florida’s nine counties, and each candidate brings their own approach and perspective from which voters can choose.

One Orange County school board candidate brought his candidate forum to a local pizza shop, where he made pizzas and answered questions about what he stands for.

“The internet is a pretty great source, but in-person, it’s also pretty nice, as well,” said Ashley Bailey, a parent who attended the forum.

“I think sometimes watching things on TV, you don’t really get to ask what you want to hear,” said Dena Reyes, another parent who attended. “I think being able to have the opportunity to talk to someone like that in a casual environment – it’s very warm and welcoming – I think it allows for an open dialogue.”

What do parents want?

News 6 asked on ClickOrlando.com:

In this year’s school board races, what issues are most important to you when choosing who you will vote for?

The question garnered a lot of responses:

“Pay teachers what they are due,” said one person. “It’s criminal what Florida pays teachers.”

“Teach real history. Teach critical race theory. Get rid of politics in school. Stop banning books,” said another respondent.

“Let teachers teach and provide a safe environment,” said another.

What are the candidates saying?

News 6 combed through the platforms of all 46 candidates running for school board in Central Florida’s nine counties.

Forty-six percent said they wanted to improve school safety.

Approximately one-third of the candidates said they want more fiscal responsibility, they want to retain the teachers the district has and they want to give parents more of a say in what was happening in the classroom.

At the bottom of the list, 2% said they want to ban critical race theory and political indoctrination, while pushing for more choice in which schools students can attend.

Moms for Liberty

The group Moms for Liberty, which started in Brevard County, has been working hard for the last three years to get the candidates they endorse elected to local school boards across the country.

They recently held a town hall in Milwaukee alongside the Republican National Convention that featured Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla.

“We’re doing (education) right, we’re happy to do it,” he told the audience. “Everything we do – we get blowback from the left and the media – but that just tells me we’re over the target.”

But some signs indicate Moms for Liberty’s impact on local school board races has taken a hit.

A study conducted by the Brookings Institute – a non-partisan government research organization – found nearly half of the group’s candidates won their races in 2022.

That slipped to one-third in 2023.

When News 6 asked Moms for Liberty who the group was endorsing for local school board races in Central Florida, spokeswoman Marleigh Schaefer responded: “We don’t have any endorsed candidates in these counties yet. I want to make clear that endorsements are still ongoing since the local chapters make all school board endorsements.”

DeSantis tweeted his own endorsements for local school board races, spotlighting a few in Brevard, Flagler and Volusia counties.

Now, it’s time for voters to decide who they want to lead their schools.

Below is a list of the candidates running and links to their websites or platforms.