Notice of Petition to Initiate Rulemaking
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Commissioner of Education has declined to recommend to the State Board of Education adoption of the “Origin Science Theory Restriction Rule” proposed by a Petition to Initiate Rulemaking filed Dr. James Connor, Stephen Starr, Tom DeRosa, Maria Ordonez, Alfred Menendez, Sr., and Douglas W. Ell, Esq., on September 1, 2017, DOE Case Number 2017-3571. The final order was issued October 3, 2017. The following is a summary of the declination of the petition: The petition asks the State Board to adopt the “Origin Science Theory Restriction Rule,” which would restrict the teaching of evolution in the regular science classroom and would necessarily require amendment of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Science. The Commissioner declined to recommend this change to the NGSSS because the Petitioners lack standing and because the proposed rule is not required by §1003.41, Fla. Stat. A copy of the Petition to Initiate Rulemaking or Final Order may be obtained by contacting: Christian Emerson, Agency Clerk, Department of Education, (850)245-9601 or christian.emerson@fldoe.org.
