The Volusia County School Board on July 29 voted unanimously to permit district schools to participate in the state esports league, reversing a board decision from 2019 that had disallowed esports.

District technology and CTE staff described esports as a supervised, competitive activity that supports teamwork, strategic thinking and digital skills and that can connect to existing CTE game‑design and simulation programs. Staff said the state league has matured since 2019, that many Florida districts now participate, and that the Financial Aid/FAFSA and scholarship pipelines have begun recognizing esports programs. The presenters noted scholarships and career pathways associated with gaming, coding and digital media.

Safety and supervision: Presenters said the state league enforces content selection and age‑appropriate game rules; district staff said a licensed or assigned staff member must supervise play and that digital citizenship education and parent outreach will be required. Staff acknowledged risks such as potential late‑night play and online chat platforms and said schools would teach students appropriate online conduct and limit unsupervised out‑of‑school play.

Implementation and scope: Staff proposed a phased start using existing equipment in CTE classrooms (district schools already run game‑design and simulation programs and some have consoles and PCs on hand). Funding for initial equipment would come from existing capital/CTE equipment allocations. Staff recommended beginning at a small number of sites tied to CTE programs and expanding if successful; board members asked for a one‑year pilot review to evaluate safeguards and student outcomes.

Board action: Following discussion, the superintendent recommended approval and the board approved esports participation in the state league unanimously. Staff said they will return with implementation details and school‑level plans, including supervised schedules, parent consent and digital‑citizenship guidance.

Ending: District staff said they will align esports activity with existing student‑behavior and acceptable‑use policies and will circulate specific program rules and a one‑year evaluation plan to the board.