Florida Rejects 41% of Submitted Math Textbooks Citing Attempts to Indoctrinate Students

April 18, 2022 Updated 7:20 P.M. ET

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Florida rejected 41% of submitted math textbooks Friday after the education commissioner said the materials referenced Critical Race theory (CRT), inclusions of Common Core, and the addition of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in mathematics. 

“It seems that some publishers attempted to slap a coat of paint on an old house built on the foundation of Common Core, and indoctrinating concepts like race essentialism, especially, bizarrely, for elementary school students,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. 

The state vetted the 132 submitted textbooks and rejected 54 of them. Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran said 71% of the submitted books for grade levels K-5 were rejected because they included prohibited topics and unsolicited strategies. 

“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,” Corcoran said. 

Even with the rejections, the commissioner said every core math course and grade is covered with at least one textbook. 

Here is the breakdown: 

• 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.

The Governor’s press secretary, Christina Pushaw, defended the education department’s decision to reject CRT in school. She cited an example from Missouri where prostitution was included in math questions. 

“So instead of having a hissy fit because @GovRonDeSantis banned CRT math textbooks, ask yourself why CRT is being injected in math instruction to begin with? I promise you, in China kids aren’t learning about pimping in math class,” Pushaw said on twitter.

In 2021, the Florida Department of Education requested bids from publishers to submit math materials and textbooks to be included on the state’s adopted list. Publishers have the ability to appeal any non-adoption decision. 

Here is the current list of the state’s adopted list.