# Florida parents, teachers criticize new science standards for schools
*Education Commissioner Henry Mack faces backlash over proposed changes to evolution and climate change curricula in public schools.*

- Medio: Orlando Ledger News (https://orlandoledgernews.com)
- URL: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/florida-parents-teachers-criticize-new-science-standards-for-schools
- Sección: Politics
- Autor: Orlando Ledger News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-10-02T07:12:14.037Z
> Florida's proposed new science education standards face heavy criticism from parents and teachers for lacking depth on evolution and climate change, prompting a defense by Education Commissioner Henry Mack.

## Las claves

- Parents and teachers criticize Florida's new science standards as insufficient
- Commissioner Mack defends changes while denying religious influence in curriculum
- Standards replace 2008 benchmarks that required teaching evolution

Orlando, FL — Florida’s proposed new science standards for public schools have sparked significant backlash from educators and parents, who argue the guidelines lack depth regarding critical topics like evolution and human-made climate change. The controversy centers on changes released by the Florida Department of Education on September 25, which aim to replace benchmarks adopted in 2008. During a virtual forum attended by nearly 300 people late Wednesday, dozens of speakers criticized the state’s approach, with many describing the new standards as a "disservice" to students.

### Debate Over Evolution and Climate Terminology

A primary point of contention is the handling of evolution. Robin Williams, a retired biology teacher, stated that leaving out clear definitions of evolution amounts to "ideology posing as biology." The current standards designate evolution as one of science’s "big ideas," but critics note the new proposal barely mentions it and fails to define the term in high school life sciences.

Additionally, the proposed standards avoid using the phrase "climate change," instead referring to "anthropogenic activities" affecting Earth's systems. Brad Dupke, an Earth science teacher from Hillsborough County, argued that one cannot teach geologic history without explaining how climate changed. Mindy Pearson, a former middle school science teacher in Hillsborough County, described the standards as reading like an "encyclopedia of scientific facts" rather than a teaching framework.

### Commissioner Mack’s Response

Education Commissioner Henry Mack faced questions regarding his original statement referencing "the book of creation." On Thursday morning, he took to social media to insist he was not advocating religious influence in the standards. He stated that while nature is intelligible because it is ordered, he opposes treating nature as a prop for adult ideology, as we reported in [Florida Science Standards Criticized For Downplaying Evolution And Climate Chang](/noticia/florida-science-standards-criticized-for-downplaying-evolution-and-climate-chang).

Despite Mack's defense, some attendees interpreted his words differently. Chris Vercelli, a parent from Sarasota County, expressed support for the new direction, suggesting the state was entertaining ideas of teaching creation and intelligent design. The Florida Department of Education also defended its changes on X, noting that the word "climate" appears 107 times across all grade levels to ensure students learn real climate science.

### Impact on Curriculum and Textbooks

The academic standards guide school districts’ lesson plans, determine topics for standardized tests, and influence textbook selections. The removal of specific terminology is not surprising given Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill in 2024 stripping the phrase "climate change" from much of Florida law. Critics argue this shift undermines support for renewable energy policies established over the last decade.
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Fuente original: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/florida-parents-teachers-criticize-new-science-standards-for-schools