The Florida Department of Education is launching a listening tour hoping to get feedback regarding revisions to education standards for civics and English-language arts (ELA). The tour stops will take place at:
Thursday, June 3 – Osceola County
Tohopekaliga High School
3675 Boggy Creek Road
Kissimmee, FL 34744
Wednesday, June 9 – Baker County
Macclenny Elementary School
1 Wildkitten Drive
Macclenny, FL 32062
A part of the new standards is a provision explicitly stating teachers and classroom instructors will not be permitted to “share their personal views or attempt to indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view” that is inconsistent with state standards.
The civics changes include analyzing the “influence of religion (Hebraic and Christian) on America’s founding ideas about law and government” for high school students. Also, alternate standards are being considered for math and ELA specifically for students with “the most significant cognitive disabilities.”
“The listening tour gives the public an opportunity to share their thoughts on the standards and I encourage them to participate,” said Florida Education Secretary Richard Corcoran. “Their thoughts and ideas are integral to the success of the process and, because of their valuable contributions, we will have better standards to guide instruction.”
Officials at the department are also considering new, fresh standards for teaching for teaching subjects like the Holocaust, substance abuse, and “character education.” DOE is also providing an online method to participate at a “virtual rule development workshop” today at 11:30 a.m.
A vote to approve the rule amendments for the new standards will take place before the State Board of Education on July 14, and officials say more opportunities for parents, teachers, and administrators to voice their opinion on the new standards will take place before the vote.
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at the Florida Capital Star and the Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
