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After months of public comment and statewide debate over how evolution should be taught in Florida schools, a decision is on the horizon. Tuesday Florida’s Board of Education members will vote on whether or not to teach evolution as a fact or a theory. As Whitney Ray tells us, poor FCAT scores and low national science rankings have education leaders looking to make changes.

Hear it here: Board to Vote on New Evolution Standards

Classrooms across the state were empty for President’s Day. By the time students return, education leaders will be deciding how they learn about their past. The board of education is set to vote on changes to the way evolution is taught. Some science teachers said leaving evolution out of the classroom is hurting students.

“It’s very hard to teach good biological science without mentioning evolution,” Nicolas Daigle, a Leon County High School science teacher said in a January interview.

The board’s decision won’t change science books at North Florida Christian School, but the school’s president still opposes Darwin’s theory being taught as fact. Dr. Randy Ray said teaching evolution in public schools will cause religious students to make some tough decisions.

“When a young person is confronted with, ‘do I stand up for my faith or do I go for the better grade,’ and it’s a very difficult choice, that the state of Florida will put a young person,” said Ray.

Experts said Florida’s public schools aren’t making the grade. When it comes to national science standards Florida made an “F” in 2005.

“Nationally, Florida performance in science is relatively low,” said Department of Education spokeswoman Jennifer Fennell. “We’re really trying to look for world class standards that will get our students better prepared for college or the work force, whatever their next steps are.”

Board of Education members will vote on two proposals, one to teach Evolution as a scientific fact. The other would require evolution to be taught as a theory. Tuesday’s board meeting will start with a full hour of public testimony. The Department of Education added time for public comment, after hundred of people wrote letters and emails to the board about the issue.