Florida's Controversial Rejection of Social Studies Content and Textbooks

Florida's Department of Education rejected nearly 35% of social studies textbooks submitted by publishers for approval, including those that referenced social justice and "other information that was not aligned with Florida Law." The move comes as Republican lawmakers, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, have made widespread efforts to restrict how racism and history are taught in schools. The examples of rejected material include references to taking a knee, social justice, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Critics argue that the decision restricts students' access to information and ideas and erases important historical facts.