Florida State Board of Education Chair Opening Statement Supports the Phoenix Declaration

Update -> Florida’s State Board Poised to Ratify Heritage’s “Phoenix Declaration”

During a Florida State Board of Education meeting on August 20, 2025, Board Chair Ryan Petty gave an opening statement in support of The Heritage Foundation’s Education plan, the Phoenix Declaration. Board President Perry’s opening statement can be heard beginning at 6 min. 48 sec.

Florida Channel Board of Education August 20, 2025 meeting

After the Florida Board of Education meeting, James V. Shuls, the Head of the K-12 Education Reform Branch of the Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University, shared the FL Board of Ed’s Chair’s Aug. 20th opening statement via X, notice the Shuls says that the 7 Phoenix Principles should be a model for the nation.

How does this relate to Colorado?

1. National Association of Scholars (NAS) is a Phoenix Declaration Institutional Signatory. The National Association of Scholars established the Civics Alliance, which acts as a convener, uniting educators, policymakers, and citizens to achieve common goals for civics education. The Civics Alliance’s major project is “American Birthright,” a set of model social studies standards that states can adopt to implement a more traditional and robust civics curriculum. Civics Alliance attempted to get the Colorado Board of Education to adopt American Birthright Social Studies Standards. Woodland Park School Board, which was taken over by Charis Bible College, ultimately voted to adopt American Birthright Social Studies Standards for the school district.
2. Colorado Christian University Chancellor Dr. Donald Sweeting served on the drafting committee for the Phoenix Declaration: An American Vision for Education. The Phoenix Declaration outlines guiding principles to restore academic excellence, expand parental rights, and ensure transparency in U.S. schools. According to the CCU website, Sweeting stated, “This past fall, I had the privilege of working with The Heritage Foundation on education policy for K-12 schools,” Sweeting noted. “I was grateful to contribute to the drafting of this national statement on education principles and to bring CCU into this important conversation. The Phoenix Declaration will help shape the future of public education in America.” Sweeting Helps Shape Phoenix Declaration, Colorado Christian University
3. Colorado currently has several Moms for Liberty chapters, as well as several Parents Defending Education Partners, which include Parents United America, Protect Kids Colorado, Grandparents for Kids, St. Vrain Awareness Alliance, Advocates for D20 Kids, and Douglas County Schools Watch.
4. Transform Colorado, a Truth & Liberty movement, lists the 1776 Hillsdale curriculum and the 1776 Commission report under American History Resources.