(AP) — Kansas education officials say they’re committed to the use of new science standards in public schools despite a federal lawsuit attempting to block the guidelines.

The State Board of Education and state Department of Education are defending multistate standards adopted by the board in June. They issued a joint statement noting that the standards were approved after nearly two years of work on them.

The lawsuit was filed last week by parents and a nonprofit group that had criticized the standards over how they treat evolution. The guidelines reflect the mainstream scientific view that evolution is well-established science.

The plaintiffs contend the standards will have schools indoctrinating students with an atheistic philosophy, in violation of their religious freedoms.

But the board and department said the standards provide strong science education.