Florida's Department of Education asked textbook publishers to avoid references to critical race theory and social justice

CRT school board meeting — Opponents of an academic doctrine known as "critical race theory" attend a packed Loudoun County, Virginia, school board meeting.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Florida's Department of Education told textbook publishers to avoid writing about critical race theory.
In new guidance to publishers, the agency said school instruction must align with existing Florida legislation.
Florida has introduced various legislation that limits the teachings of critical race theory.

Florida's Department of Education is urging textbook publishers to avoid references to critical race theory and social justice in future editions, Politico reported.

The agency released guidance asking publishers to avoid adding content that attempts to "indoctrinate or persuade students to a viewpoint inconsistent with Florida standards."

The guidance says instruction should adhere to existing Florida laws.

In December, for example, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis touted a bill that limited race-related discussions in the classroom and workplace. The bill, called the Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act, or Stop WOKE Act, bars discussions around certain topics pertaining to race. DeSantis in December celebrated the bill as the "strongest legislation of its kind in the nation" and saying it "will take on both corporate wokeness and Critical Race Theory."

A wave of Republican lawmakers all around the nation have sought to limit the teachings of critical race theory, an academic framework that examines how race and racism have interacted with American law.

In June, Florida's State Board of Education passed an amendment that banned the teaching of critical race theory, claiming the framework can "distort historical events."

"Examples of theories that distort historical events and are inconsistent with State Board approved standards include the denial or minimization of the Holocaust, and the teaching of Critical Race Theory, meaning the theory that racism is not merely the product of prejudice, but that racism is embedded in American society and its legal systems in order to uphold the supremacy of white persons," the amendment reads in part.

Any references to "social justice" must also be kept out of textbooks for students, the guidance says.

"Critical Race Theory, Social Justice, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Social and Emotional Learning, and any other unsolicited theories that may lead to student indoctrination are prohibited," according to the guidance.

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