Fla. Panel’s Evolution Vote Hailed

But compromise is seen unlikely to settle debate.

The compromise hammered out in Florida this week over the treatment of evolution in the state’s science classrooms is winning praise from scientists and educators, though few regard it as signaling an end to nationwide discord over the issue.

New science standards narrowly adopted Feb. 19 by the state board of education will for the first time explicitly refer to evolution—specifically, the “scientific theory of evolution.” The changes replace more-general language in the previous guidelines that merely alluded to the concept.

“The standards, as approved, are a huge step forward for our Florida schools,” said Brandon Haught, a spokesman for Florida Citizens for Science, an advocacy organization that supported the new standards. “They’re light-years ahead of what’s been...