Florida Creates a More Conservative Course to Rival A.P. History
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Florida has introduced a new American history course that presents a more conservative interpretation, emphasizing the Protestant faith of the founders and portraying the U.S. Constitution as an antislavery document.
- The course, launching as a pilot this fall, is designed as an alternative to the widely enrolled Advanced Placement U.S. History program, which many educators consider balanced and non-ideological.
- Governor Ron DeSantis has actively opposed the College Board's A.P. courses, criticizing them for perceived left-leaning perspectives on race and gender issues.
- Education policy expert Frederick Hess praised the new Florida curriculum for its rigor and use of primary sources but noted it clearly favors a patriotic, positive view of American history over a critical perspective.
