Dozens of the math textbooks that were sent for approval were rejected, the Florida Department of Education announced, because they did not meet the state’s new standards, with claims that the rejected books contained content that could be considered ‘critical race theory’ or linked to liberal indoctrination.
MUST WATCH VIDEO: 54 textbooks submitted for the state of Florida’s approved list have been rejected by the Florida Department of Education.
The department claims that the books were rejected because they contained prohibited topics, such as Critical Race Theory. The department’s release stated: “Reasons for rejecting textbooks included references to Critical Race Theory (CRT), inclusions of Common Core, and the unsolicited addition of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in mathematics,” per reports.
The highest number of books were rejected for grade levels K-5, the department said, and seventy-one percent of books in that margin were determined by the department to be “not appropriately aligned with Florida standards or included prohibited topics and unsolicited strategies.”
According to the department, every core mathematics course and grade is covered with at least one textbook that is aligned with Florida’s Benchmarks for Excellent Thinking Standards (B.E.S.T.), despite rejecting 41% of submitted materials.
The B.E.S.T. curriculum will be implemented in schools for the first time in the 2022-23 school year. The curriculum has been known for its elimination of Florida Standards Assessments testing in schools. Out of 132 books, Fifty-four were rejected.
Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran said in a statement that “when it comes to education, other states continue to follow Florida’s lead as we continue to reinforce parents’ rights by focusing on providing their children with a world-class education without the fear of indoctrination or exposure to dangerous and divisive concepts in our classrooms.”
These are the materials that were rejected:
– 78 of 132 total submitted textbooks are being included on the state’s adopted list.
– 28 (21 percent) are not included on the adopted list because they incorporate prohibited topics or unsolicited strategies, including CRT.
– 12 (9 percent) are not included on the adopted list because they do not properly align to B.E.S.T. Standards.
– 14 (11 percent) are not included on the adopted list because they do not properly align to B.E.S.T. Standards and incorporate prohibited topics or unsolicited strategies, including CRT.
– Grades K-5: 71 percent of materials were rejected.
– Grades 6-8: 20 percent of materials were rejected.
– Grades 9-12: 35 percent of materials were rejected.
Florida’s Department of Education said in an issued statement: “It is unfortunate that several publishers, especially at the elementary school grade levels, have ignored this clear communication and have attempted to slip rebranded instructional materials based on Common Core Standards into Florida’s classrooms, while others have included prohibited and divisive concepts such as the tenants of CRT or other unsolicited strategies of indoctrination – despite FDOE’s prior notification.”