The state of Florida can now officially teach evolution in its schools, following a 19 February vote.

The state's board of education voted 4–3 to include “the scientific theory of evolution” in its teaching standards. Evolution had not previously been mentioned by name in the biology-curriculum standards.

But the phrase “the scientific theory of” was added at the last minute, in order to garner enough votes to pass. One board member had proposed adding an amendment that would allow teachers to opt for exploring criticisms of evolution, but the amendment failed to go anywhere.

Still, science-education experts praised the standards change as a major step forward.