The Florida Education Association, the union representing "120,000 educators united in their mission to ensure success for Florida’s students and public schools," released a statement critical of Florida's proposed science standards and the public comment process, according to the Florida Phoenix (October 12, 2026). As quoted there, the statement reads:
Florida’s revision of K-12 science standards must be driven by research and scientific evidence, not state politicians’ ideological or religious beliefs. When educators are forced to teach outside established science, students receive an incomplete, inaccurate education and miss the facts, critical thinking skills, and knowledge they need to succeed, placing them at a disadvantage.
Parents, educators, and community members should be part of meaningful discussions about what belongs in the standards. With over 1,000 pages and hundreds of benchmarks, public discussion cannot be reduced to 90-second soundbites or limited to in-person town halls. If the Florida Department of Education is committed to public collaboration, it should provide more time for review and revision and hold additional virtual town halls to expand participation.
The Phoenix also quoted NCSE's Glenn Branch's comment to the Orlando Sentinel (September 30, 2026): "I would like to say something nice about the new standards, but I can't." The Florida Department of Education is taking comments on the proposed science standards until the end of October 2026; the state board of education is expected to vote on them in December 2026.
