Author Archives: Brandon Haught

About Brandon Haught

Communications Director for Florida Citizens for Science.

Announcement: Florida Citizens for Science meeting July 15

Posted on July 8, 2017 by Brandon Haught

Florida Citizens for Science will hold an interim meeting to discuss the many science education developments since we held our regular annual meeting back in January. Date: July 15 (Saturday) Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Place: Room 2702 USF … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Dear Unbiased and Qualified Hearing Officer …

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Brandon Haught

Florida’s horrible new Instructional Materials and Religious Liberties in Schools laws are continuing to garner all sorts of news coverage. The latest pieces are great takes on the laws by popular columnists. First we have Fred Grimm’s thoughts in the … Continue reading →

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Be informed. Be active.

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Brandon Haught

There are two new laws here in Florida that will potentially impact science education in detrimental ways. I’m, of course, talking about the Instructional Materials law and the Religious Expression in Schools law. Florida Citizens for Science has been in … Continue reading →

Posted in Instructional Materials bills '17, Religious Liberties Act 2017 | 2 Comments

The fight will now be won or lost where you live.

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Brandon Haught

Unfortunately, the devious Instructional Materials bill, which creationists and climate change deniers absolutely love, is now signed into law by Governor Rick Scott. This means our fight is only just now beginning. Each and every one of us has to … Continue reading →

Posted in Instructional Materials bills '17, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Your last chance to stop bill loved by creationists is now!

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Brandon Haught

This is it, ladies and gentlemen. You’ve been hearing about it from us for months now. The bill that would empower creationists, climate change deniers, anti-vaccine proponents, and other factual science education foes to challenge the textbooks and other instructional … Continue reading →

Posted in Instructional Materials bills '17 | 32 Comments

Eight years later: Are Florida’s students still losing out on a solid science education?

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Brandon Haught

In June 2009, a full eight years ago, I wrote a column published in the Gainesville Sun with the pointed headline: Is science education important to Florida? Is science education important to Florida? That is a relevant question to ask … Continue reading →

Posted in FCAT, Our Science Standards | 2 Comments

Governor signs Religious Liberties bill into law

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Brandon Haught

The Florida legislature presented Governor Rick Scott with the Religious Liberties bill on Monday and on Friday he signed it into law. There are two sections of the bill (link to pdf) that concern us here at Florida Citizens for Science. … Continue reading →

Posted in Religious Liberties Act 2017 | 1 Comment

Science assessment scores “remained consistent”? Seriously?

Posted on June 9, 2017 by Brandon Haught

The results are in for the many mandatory statewide tests Florida’s students take every year. Headlines in newspapers across the state emphasized language arts and math scores, which overall improved over last year’s results. That’s good news. But science? Here’s … Continue reading →

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