Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on Thursday “outlining a path for Florida to improve its education system by eliminating Common Core and paving the way for Florida students to receive a world-class education to prepare them for jobs of the future.
The governor explained his rationale for offering the executive order.
“I have heard parents from across the state loud and clear and they all agree that it is time to finally end Common Core,” said DeSantis. “So today, we are taking action through this executive order to ensure that Florida has the best academic standards in the nation and eliminating Common Core from our schools, as well as reaffirming my commitment to prepare our students for the real world through an increased focus on civic education.”
DeSantis’ office explained how the governor’s executive order would work.
“Executive Order 19-32 directs Florida Department of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to comprehensively review the academic standards for Florida’s kindergarten through grade twelve students and provide recommended revisions to Governor DeSantis,” the govenror’s office noted. “The recommendations shall: articulate how Florida will eliminate Common Core (Florida Standards) and ensure we return to the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic; provide a roadmap to make Florida’s standards number one in the nation; reflect Florida Department of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran’s consultation with relevant stakeholders to include parents and teachers; deem how to increase the quality of instructional curriculum; suggest innovative ways to streamline testing; identify opportunities to equip high school graduates with sufficient knowledge of America’s civics, particularly the principles reflected in the Unites States Constitution, so as to be capable of discharging the responsibilities associated with American citizenship; and outline a pathway for Florida to be the most literate state in the nation.”
“Common Core has failed teachers, parents, and our children,” DeSantis insisted on Thursday. “That’s why I am issuing an executive order to eliminate Common Core in Florida. We will streamline standardized testing, make civics a priority in schools and increase the literacy rate.”
At an event in Tampa earlier in the day, DeSantis issued another executive order “to begin the process of making Florida the number one state in the nation for workforce education as well as ensuring that Florida students are prepared to fill the high-demand, high-wage jobs of today and the future.”
DeSantis explained why he issued that executive order.
“Florida has many students unprepared for college and workforce success, limiting both their career opportunities as well as employers’ ability to grow their business,” said DeSantis. “I am committed to making sure students in Florida are able to acquire the knowledge and learn the skills they need to earn a good wage and provide for their families here in our great state, and that’s why I signed this executive order today.”
“Florida is currently ranked 24th in the nation of people age 25-64 with an associate in arts degree or higher or with a high-quality workforce relevant certificate. Through Executive Order 19-31, Governor DeSantis has charted a course for Florida to become number one in the nation in workforce education by 2030 and to provide students the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in jobs of the 21st century,” the governor’s office noted.
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