Florida education officials have rejected a slew of math textbooks they say attempt to indoctrinate students through the inclusion of critical race theory and other prohibited topics, officials said last Friday.
The department rejected 41% of submissions from publishers due to various reasons including references to critical race theory” and adherence to federal Common Core standards.
A team of reviewers from around the state combed through more than 130 submitted textbooks for next year.
The reviewers junked 54 of the submitted textbooks. Education officials said 28 of the rejected books include prohibited topics such as critical race theory, 12 didn’t align with the latest B.E.S.T. Standards, and 14 books contained both.
Gov. Ron DeSantis claims the publishers of those books are trying to indoctrinate students. However, when asked on Tuesday to provide examples of the questionable material, the governor said he could not because the information is copyrighted.
The Republican-controlled state Legislature has banned the teaching of anything that resembles critical race theory, an academic framework centered on the idea that racism is systemic and not just demonstrated by individuals.
That law passed in March is awaiting DeSantis’ signature.
“If they let you release it, release it. We obviously want people to see that, but it’s not done by me or Richard,” DeSantis said during a news conference in The Villages. “These are people who are applying Florida standards. It’s sad we are even in the situation to have to do this, but the fact of the matter is some of these textbooks companies, this education establishment, it’s gotten increasingly politicized and they are trying to do ideology and that’s just not what education is about.”
The publishing companies can appeal the decision or modify the information in the textbooks to get onto the approved list.
