In January, President Trump issued an executive order officially renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Since then, major corporations such as Chevron, Murphy Oil, Shell, Google, Apple, and Microsoft have adjusted their materials and references accordingly. Louisiana state agencies, including the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, have also adopted the new terminology.
"The Gulf is a sustaining engine for Louisiana—it helps fuel our energy sector and food and seafood industry and sustains generations of families," said Dr. Brumley the Louisiana State Superintendent of Education. "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."
The LDOE will issue guidance for school systems and is working with publishers of fourth and fifth-grade Tier 1 social studies materials to incorporate the updates. Social studies instructional materials are routinely adjusted based on political boundaries and historical events.
Louisiana’s Freedom Framework social studies standards specifically reference the Gulf in two areas—one in fourth grade and one in fifth grade. These updates will take effect in the 2025-2026 school year.