Florida says math textbooks taught critical race theory

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — After a delay of nearly a week, the Florida Department of Education has released two examples that it says backs up its rejection of dozens of math textbooks because they contained questions and exercises based on critical race theory or Common Core.

The state did not identify which textbooks the examples come from, but one appears to be from an advanced high school algebra or statistics textbook and begins with the phrase, “What? Me? Racist?” It has students work with data reported by an online test that researchers say uncovers hidden attitudes toward different races.

The other appears to come from a teacher's guide to a kindergarten or first-grade textbook. The lesson is entitled “Social and Emotional Learning - Building Student Agency"; students work together as they put the numbers 1 to 5 in proper order so they can “build proficiency with social awareness as they practice with empathizing with classmates."

The state rejected more than 50 math textbooks — about 40% of those submitted. Despite the state's disapproval, under Florida law individual districts can still buy the texts if at least half their book spending is on approved material.

“It seems some publishers attempted to slap a coat of paint on an old house built on the foundation of Common Core, and indoctrinating concepts like race essentialism, especially, bizarrely, for elementary school students," Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a statement when the rejections were announced late last week. The examples were released Thursday.

Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz, a former Miami mayor, said in a statement that Florida has long had a system for picking appropriate books, but it is being politicized by the DeSantis administration.

“What Florida politicians are...