Education Week posted an article describing the implications for changes in the Florida science curriculum based on at least two of the education taskforce members views…Keith Flaugh and Erika Donalds from Collier County, Florida.  Jeff Sawchuk, he author of the article:  Coming Soon to Florida: More Challenges to District’s Science Curricula bases his concern on a law based in 2017 to allow independent challenges to district text book selection by not only parents but any citizen.

As a member of Citizens Alliance, Flaugh submitted dozens of challenges to text books last year.  He was quoted as saying ‘”Books that treat evolution as a proven science are discriminating and bully children and their families against their religious beliefs”.

Citizens Alliance trains local protestors to challenge textbooks.  Last year challenges were submitted in Collier, Martin and Nassau counties.  The local school boards voted 3/2 to retain the books.  (This split vote is one example why these Christian advocacy groups are targeting school board elections.)  Moreover, Governor DeSantis has already announced that the task force will conduct a curriculum review of the Florida State Curriculum Standards.  

Governor DeStantis’ proposal to appoint former House Speaker Richard Corcoran as Commissioner of Education is a last straw.  With the announcement of Jennifer Sullivan, a home schooled college dropout as House education chair, concern about her qualifications arose.  It seems her role as the curriculum developer for TeenPact, an organization dedicated to educate conservative youth on the proper role of government, was her only experience in education.  TeenPact is supported by Americans for Prosperity.

Then, Manny Diaz, a former House member was appointed Senate education committee chair.  He is an employee of the for-profit Academica charter management firm that launched a private non-accredited college with no students or faculty to award dual enrollment credit to their charter high schoolers that was not transferable.  

The Tallahassee Democrat summarizes the concerns from public school advocates across the state.  You can read their article here. WordPress won’t embed the url today, so you can google the Tallahassee Democrat article:  Public School Allies Sound the Alarm over Corcoran to read quotes from public school advocates across Florida (including mine!).

Patti Brigham, President of the Florida League of Women Voters has issued a letter to the Florida State Board of Education urging them to conduct a national search for the Commissioner of Education.  Governor DeSantis wants to name Richard Corcoran, the former House Speaker to the job of running the Florida Department of Education.  His main claim to fame is his personal agenda to dismantle public schools and support privatization.  Read the letter below.