Florida on Thursday became the first state in the nation to formally adopt the Phoenix Declaration, a document outlining a framework for K-12 education centered on parental authority, classical academics and civic instruction.
The State Board of Education voted unanimously to ratify the declaration as the guiding set of principles for Florida’s education system.
The declaration, titled The Phoenix Declaration: An American Vision for Education, was released in February by the Heritage Foundation in coordination with more than 50 education scholars, policy experts and public officials.
The Phoenix Declaration outlines seven core areas: parental choice and responsibility, transparency and accountability, truth and objective academic content, instruction in America’s founding principles and Western and Judeo-Christian traditions, character formation, academic excellence through proven instructional methods, and civic education that teaches students the virtues needed for self-government. It also calls for students to learn “the whole truth” about America’s history, including both its strengths and failures.
Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said many of the declaration’s themes have already shaped Florida’s policy direction under Gov. Ron DeSantis, stating that the board’s adoption is “reaffirming [to] our commitment to an education system that pursues truth and virtue, empowers parents, and always prioritizes our students.”
State Board of Education Chair Ryan Petty, meanwhile, said its adoption establishes a consistent philosophical foundation for statewide decision-making.
“As one of the original public officials who signed on to the Phoenix Declaration, I knew how important it was for the State Board of Education to adopt it to serve as the unifying foundation for education in Florida.” said Petty. “The Phoenix Declaration will challenge us, as leaders, to resist complacency and ensure that Florida remains a national model for academic freedom, parental partnership and educational excellence.”
