Ron DeSantis stands by Florida rejecting a record number of math textbooks: 'It doesn't matter how you feel'

• Florida's education reviewers recently rejected a record number of math textbooks.
• They said they taught Critical Race Theory and social and emotional learning, but didn't share what the material was.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday defended the state's Department of Education for rejecting a record number of math textbooks in which reviewers accused publishers of invoking social and emotional learning into the subject.

"There is a movement to say math should be not about getting the right answer, but more about social and emotional response," DeSantis, a Republican, said at an event in The Villages, Florida, when asked by a reporter about the rejections, which applied to grades K-12.

This type of learning would continue to be rejected in Florida, he pledged, saying that school districts in other states were "moving toward a more sociological and political" type of learning.

"It doesn't matter how you feel about the math problem," DeSantis said. "It matters whether you can solve the math problem."

DeSantis has seen his star power grow in the Republican Party as he takes on top issues for conservatives — including teachings in public schools — and following his high-profile battles with the Biden administration, particularly over differences in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. He's up for reelection in Florida this November, though many GOP political insiders hope that he'll run for president in 2024, particularly if former President Donald Trump decides against a comeback bid.

DeSantis' latest comments came after state reviewers rejected 54 out of 132 math textbooks that school districts submitted — a record, according to Florida's Department of Education.

Aside from accusations that the textbooks violated standards by invoking social and emotional learning, reviewers also said they found references to critical race theory. In addition, they rejected books that included of Common Core, a set of national learning standards DeSantis abolished through executive order in 2019.

The state hasn't released details about which sections of the books reviewers found objectionable, though it did release a list of rejected textbooks on Monday.

Many educators were alarmed by the news that textbooks they submitted had been rejected. The Florida Education Association wants more transparency on the matter, Andrew Spar, president of the union, said in a statement.

"How about defining those terms, and giving examples of objectionable content?" Spar said of critical race theory and social and emotional learning.

DeSantis said Tuesday that he would be open to releasing details about the prohibited content but that the state had its hands tied legally because the information in the textbooks is copyrighted.

"It's sad that we are even in a situation where we have to do this," DeSantis said. "But the fact of the matter is in some of these textbook companies, this education establishment, it has gotten increasingly politicized and they are trying to do ideology."

In the last couple of years both "critical race theory" and "social and emotional learning" have become hot-button topics for conservatives.

Critical race theory is an analytical framework typically taught in law schools that examines how slavery and racism in the US have shaped policies and institutions. Most public schools say critical race theory is not part of their curriculum.

Democrats accuse Republicans of trying to whitewash history with their attacks on critical race theory, while Republicans use the words "critical race theory," or "CRT," as a catch-all term to criticize the way that racism and other social issues are being taught in public schools. Florida lawmakers banned such teachings in 2021.

Social and emotional learning strategies can include helping students to cope with stress or anxiety, among other preventive measures, many educators say.

Publishers have the option to appeal the textbooks in Florida or to revise their materials and re-submit them for approval, Richard Corcoran, the state's education commissioner, said at Tuesday's event. They can also sue, he said, and if that happens, then the public will be able to see what content state reviewers found objectionable.

"Whatever the content is, it has to be geared toward helping our children get a world-class education," Corcoran said. "If it's something other than that, we're not interested."