Louisiana schools to adopt ‘Gulf of America' name in updated social studies standards
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) announced today, March 12, that it is updating its Freedom Framework social studies standards to reflect the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America following President Trump's Executive Order 14172.
The executive order, signed on Jan. 20, directed federal agencies to adopt the new name in official documents, maps, and communications. Louisiana is among the first states to formally implement the change in educational standards.
'The Gulf is a sustaining engine for Louisiana—it helps fuel our energy sector and food and seafood industry and sustains generations of families,' State Superintendent Cade Brumley said. 'Updating our academic standards ensures alignment with the leadership of President Trump and Governor Landry while reinforcing the Gulf's significance to our state's future.'
Louisiana's Freedom Framework standards specifically reference the Gulf in fourth and fifth-grade social studies lessons. The updated curriculum will take effect in the 2025-2026 school year, with no immediate requirement for schools to purchase new instructional materials ahead of their regular update schedule. Digital materials are expected to reflect the change sooner than printed textbooks.
According to LDOE, the state is working with publishers of fourth and fifth-grade Tier 1 social studies materials to incorporate the changes. Guidance for school systems will be issued in the coming months.
While Louisiana is one of the first states to integrate the change into its educational standards, several other states have proposed or discussed similar updates.
Alabama: Legislation has been introduced to require all state and local agencies, including schools, to adopt the term Gulf of America in official publications.
Florida: Lawmakers have considered replacing Gulf of Mexico with Gulf of America in state laws and school materials. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has already adopted the new terminology.
Oklahoma: Superintendent Ryan Walters announced updates to the state's history standards requiring the use of Gulf of America, though details remain unclear. In a press release sent to Louisiana First News' sister station KFOR, Walters said that Oklahoma is the first state to comply with the executive order.
Texas: A bill has been introduced that would require an amendment to the Texas Constitution to officially recognize the renaming.
, , and have also debated similar changes, though some measures have stalled in legislative sessions.
It remains to be seen how widely 'Gulf of America' will be adopted in state educational standards, as implementation varies across the country.
The White House says it's a 'fact' that the Gulf of Mexico has been renamed. Is that right?
President Trump's executive order emphasized the Gulf's economic, historical, and strategic significance to the United States, calling it a 'vital artery for American commerce, energy production, and fisheries.' The administration framed the renaming as part of a broader effort to emphasize American exceptionalism and remove what it described as 'foreign branding' from national landmarks.
Since the order, federal agencies such as the National Weather Service (NWS), National Hurricane Center (NHC), and U.S. Geographic Names Information System have adopted the new name for hurricane tracking, emergency alerts, and public safety communications. Major corporations, including Google, Apple, Chevron, Murphy Oil, and Shell, have also adjusted their materials to reflect the new terminology.
In Louisiana, state agencies have followed suit, with departments such as the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries updating their official materials to reflect the change.
Louisiana's Freedom Framework social studies standards were first adopted in 2022 and implemented statewide in 2023. The standards reflect a commitment to American exceptionalism while ensuring historical events are presented in a chronological and skill-based manner. Superintendent Cade Brumley has called the Freedom Framework one of the strongest in the country and has advised other states on developing similar curricula.
The 2025-2026 update will be the first official revision since the Freedom Framework went into effect.
The Louisiana Department of Education says no immediate action is required from schools, as updates will be incorporated gradually into new instructional materials. However, teachers and school districts will receive guidance from LDOE on how to incorporate the change in upcoming lessons.
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