Tallahassee, Florida — Florida education officials asked textbook publishers to remove or soften some references to climate change before approving science books for the state’s public schools, according to records obtained in a WUSF and Hechinger Report investigation.
The changes occurred during Florida’s 2024 science textbook review. In one McGraw Hill marine science book, officials requested replacing “climate change” with “changes in the environment.” Another passage citing research estimating 150,000 annual deaths from climate change was rewritten to say human health would be affected by increased carbon dioxide and warming.
Cengage also removed the word “polluting” from a reference to coal-burning power plants and eliminated other passages discussing fossil fuels and climate policy. Publishers eventually secured approval for most books after making requested revisions.
Glenn Branch of the National Center for Science Education said the requests went beyond changes needed to align the books with Florida’s existing science standards. McGraw Hill said state-specific revisions are routine and maintained that climate change and its environmental effects remain covered in its Florida materials.
The disclosures come as Florida updates its science standards for the first time since 2008. The Department of Education has not said whether the revised standards will continue requiring instruction on human-caused climate change in certain high school science courses.
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