The release of new education standards — and a move away from all vestiges of Common Core — leaves state lawmakers curious what the guidelines will bring. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis in a Naples announcement last week said the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking, or BEST, Standards would propel Florida upward in the quality of education. “We want to get back to solid education standards and curriculum,” he said.

The new directions guiding education criteria in Florida include requiring cursive, stepping away from “new math” and increasing the level of civics education throughout K-12 school.

State Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Sarasota, says he felt enthusiastic about the new direction.

“I’m really excited for the state of Florida as we continue to evaluate and improve the standards in the education arena,” he says. “I’m especially happy about the addition of civics for all grades, and Florida is the first in the nation to incorporate those.

“It’s critical we teach students about our government, not only what the documents say but where they came from, and also about the civic responsibility they have as an American citizen.”

State Rep. Margaret Good, D-Sarasota, struck a more cautious note. She wanted to see the full results published before weighing final judgement, but also believed quality education depends on more than state standards.

"While I understand the importance of standards and applaud efforts to do things like increase civics education and provide access to college preparatory exams, let’s be clear," Good says.

"The heart of a good education system is the teachers. We must focus on ensuring our teachers are getting the support, resources, and pay they deserve in order to ensure that our students are receiving the high quality education they deserve."