Florida education leaders on Thursday approved a set of principles that would teach a conservative-backed vision of the United States.

The State Board of Education, which also approved social studies changes intended to highlight ideological evils of communism, signed off on Florida becoming the first state to adopt the Heritage Foundation's "Phoenix Declaration: An American Vision for Education."

The declaration is a statement of principles described as fostering "a love of country," teaching children to "seek the good, true and beautiful" and aiming for students to "achieve their full, God-given potential."

Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said the declaration establishes an "affiliation" with the Heritage Foundation and promotes what the board supports rather than what

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