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Revised Science And History Standards Passed By Arizona Board Of Education

On Monday, the Arizona State Board of Education voted against outgoing Superintendent Diane Douglas, while approving science standards that include evolution.

“The State Board of Education of Arizona passed 6-to-4 to adopt the revised science and history standards,” said Stefan Swiat, communications officer for the Arizona Department of Education. “Mostly the reason that we are revising the standards is that they haven’t been looked at in about 15 years.”

The standards were different than those that outgoing Secretary of Education Diane Douglas supported. Douglas preferred standards developed by a conservative college in Michigan, Hillsdale College. Instead they adopted standards that were set by the Department of Education. They were set with guidance from a working group of both teachers and members of the general public, which provided input.


“There was contention behind a few different issues. With the science standards, the superintendent didn’t feel they were robust enough while the working groups were frightened that evolution, as well as climate change weren’t included at the level that they though it should have been,” Swiat said.

The interpretation of standards will leave the decision up to local districts. “The standards of education are what kids need to know. From there school districts are able to develop curriculum,” Swiat said.

In the August GOP primary, Douglas finished third. She will now be replaced by either Republican Frank Riggs or Democrat Kathy Hoffman. November’s general election will help in selecting the replacement.