Florida senator proposes bill to mandate flag displays and daily pledge in D.C. schools

Florida Republican Sen. Ashley Moody has unveiled the PLEDGE Act, a bill aimed at the Washington, D.C. public-school system to restore daily patriotic practices. The measure would compel teachers to exhibit the United States flag in every classroom and require school leaders to provide a daily opportunity for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Moody argues that D.C. schools currently forgo these symbols while emphasizing activist teaching, contrasting the capital with more than 40 states that have pledge requirements.

The initiative surfaces as the city’s mayoral race features socialist contender Janeese Lewis George as the frontrunner, reflecting broader tensions over progressive curricula that include LGBTQ+ history and other left-leaning topics. Moody’s statement frames the bill as a way to remind youth of American freedoms and the sacrifices tied to the flag. The proposal has drawn attention to the cultural divide between conservative calls for traditional patriotism and the district’s emphasis on inclusive, progressive education.