Ava McDonnell
On Thursday, Nov. 20, the Florida State Board of Education unanimously ratified and adopted The Phoenix Declaration: An American Vision for Education, a two-page statement of educational principles created by the conservative Heritage Foundation. This makes Florida the first state in the nation to formally adopt the document as a guiding statement for public education.
The document, drafted in collaboration with educational scholars and public officials, outlines seven core principles to govern how Florida schools teach and operate. These principles include:
- Parental Choice & Responsibility — Parents are framed as the primary educators, and public education funding should “follow the child.”
- Transparency & Accountability — Schools must be open with parents about curricula, policies, and student well-being.
- Truth & Goodness — Education should be “grounded in objective truth … free from ideological fads” and oriented toward moral virtue.
- Cultural Transmission — Students should learn about America’s founding principles and the broader Western and Judeo-Christian traditions, including competing viewpoints from intellectual heritage.
- Character Formation — Schools should cultivate virtue, personal responsibility, and self-discipline to prepare students for adulthood.
- Citizenship — Students should be equipped with the civic knowledge and virtues for self-government, understanding both the merits and failings of the United States.
The Heritage Foundation’s published version of the declaration and the Florida Department of Education materials expand on those principles.
State officials and proponents emphasized that the adoption is a statement of principles rather than an immediate change to state law or classroom curricula. The board packet published by the Florida Department of Education frames the action as a ratification and articulation of educational priorities intended to guide future policy and practice.
By adopting the declaration, Florida has become the first state in the nation to do so. The decision could have broader implications: other states, such as South Carolina and Oklahoma, have expressed interest in embracing the framework.
Whether the Phoenix Declaration will reshape everyday teaching remains to be seen. For now, its adoption marks a significant ideological shift in Florida’s public education system, aligning it with values championed by the conservative Heritage Foundation.
Comments