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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to required instruction in the history 2
of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; amending s. 3
1003.42, F.S.; requiring the history of Asian 4
Americans and Pacific Islanders to be included in 5
specified instruction; amending ss. 1006.148 and 6
1014.05, F.S.; conforming cross -references; providing 7
an effective date. 8
9
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10
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Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 1003.42, Florida 12
Statutes, is amended to read: 13
1003.42 Required instruction. — 14
(2) Members of the instructional staff of the public 15
schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education 16
and the district school board, shall t each efficiently and 17
faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the 18
highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy, 19
following the prescribed courses of study, and employing 20
approved methods of instruction, the following: 21
(a) The history and content of the Declaration of 22
Independence, including national sovereignty, natural law, self -23
evident truth, equality of all persons, limited government, 24
popular sovereignty, and inalienable rights of life, liberty, 25
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and property, and ho w they form the philosophical foundation of 26
our government. 27
(b) The history, meaning, significance, and effect of the 28
provisions of the Constitution of the United States and 29
amendments thereto, with emphasis on each of the 10 amendments 30
that make up the Bill of Rights and how the constitution 31
provides the structure of our government. 32
(c) The arguments in support of adopting our republican 33
form of government, as they are embodied in the most important 34
of the Federalist Papers. 35
(d) Flag education, inclu ding proper flag display and flag 36
salute. 37
(e) The elements of civil government, including the 38
primary functions of and interrelationships between the Federal 39
Government, the state, and its counties, municipalities, school 40
districts, and special districts . 41
(f) The history of the United States, including the period 42
of discovery, early colonies, the War for Independence, the 43
Civil War, the expansion of the United States to its present 44
boundaries, the world wars, and the civil rights movement to the 45
present. American history shall be viewed as factual, not as 46
constructed, shall be viewed as knowable, teachable, and 47
testable, and shall be defined as the creation of a new nation 48
based largely on the universal principles stated in the 49
Declaration of Independenc e. 50
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(g)1. The history of the Holocaust (1933 -1945), the 51
systematic, planned annihilation of European Jews and other 52
groups by Nazi Germany, a watershed event in the history of 53
humanity, to be taught in a manner that leads to an 54
investigation of human beha vior, an understanding of the 55
ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, and an 56
examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful 57
person, for the purposes of encouraging tolerance of diversity 58
in a pluralistic society and for nurtu ring and protecting 59
democratic values and institutions, including the policy, 60
definition, and historical and current examples of anti -61
Semitism, as described in s. 1000.05(8), and the prevention of 62
anti-Semitism. Each school district must annually certify a nd 63
provide evidence to the department, in a manner prescribed by 64
the department, that the requirements of this paragraph are met. 65
The department shall prepare and offer standards and curriculum 66
for the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek 67
input from the Commissioner of Education's Task Force on 68
Holocaust Education or from any state or nationally recognized 69
Holocaust educational organizations. The department may contract 70
with any state or nationally recognized Holocaust educational 71
organizations to develop training for instructional personnel 72
and grade-appropriate classroom resources to support the 73
developed curriculum. 74
2. The second week in November shall be designated as 75
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"Holocaust Education Week" in this state in recognition that 76
November is the anniversary of Kristallnacht, widely recognized 77
as a precipitating event that led to the Holocaust. 78
(h) The history of African Americans, including the 79
history of African peoples before the political conflicts that 80
led to the development of slaver y, the passage to America, the 81
enslavement experience, abolition, and the history and 82
contributions of Americans of the African diaspora to society. 83
Students shall develop an understanding of the ramifications of 84
prejudice, racism, and stereotyping on indi vidual freedoms, and 85
examine what it means to be a responsible and respectful person, 86
for the purpose of encouraging tolerance of diversity in a 87
pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting democratic 88
values and institutions. Instruction shall incl ude the roles and 89
contributions of individuals from all walks of life and their 90
endeavors to learn and thrive throughout history as artists, 91
scientists, educators, businesspeople, influential thinkers, 92
members of the faith community, and political and gove rnmental 93
leaders and the courageous steps they took to fulfill the 94
promise of democracy and unite the nation. Instructional 95
materials shall include the vital contributions of African 96
Americans to build and strengthen American society and celebrate 97
the inspirational stories of African Americans who prospered, 98
even in the most difficult circumstances. Instructional 99
personnel may facilitate discussions and use curricula to 100
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address, in an age-appropriate manner, how the individual 101
freedoms of persons have been infringed by slavery, racial 102
oppression, racial segregation, and racial discrimination, as 103
well as topics relating to the enactment and enforcement of laws 104
resulting in racial oppression, racial segregation, and racial 105
discrimination and how recognition of these freedoms has 106
overturned these unjust laws. However, classroom instruction and 107
curriculum may not be used to indoctrinate or persuade students 108
to a particular point of view inconsistent with the principles 109
enumerated in subsection (3) or the state ac ademic standards. 110
The department shall prepare and offer standards and curriculum 111
for the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek 112
input from the Commissioner of Education's African American 113
History Task Force. 114
(i) The history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, 115
including the immigration, citizenship, civil rights, identity, 116
and culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the 117
contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to 118
American society. Instructional materials shall include the 119
contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to 120
American society. 121
(j)(i) The elementary principles of agriculture. 122
(k)(j) The true effects of all alcoholic and intoxicating 123
liquors and beverages a nd narcotics upon the human body and 124
mind. 125
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(l)(k) Kindness to animals. 126
(m)(l) The history of the state. 127
(n)(m) The conservation of natural resources. 128
(o)(n) Comprehensive age-appropriate and developmentally 129
appropriate K-12 instruction on: 130
1. Health education that addresses concepts of community 131
health, consumer health, environmental health, and family life, 132
including: 133
a. Injury prevention and safety. 134
b. Internet safety. 135
c. Nutrition. 136
d. Personal health. 137
e. Prevention and control of dise ase. 138
f. Substance use and abuse. 139
g. Prevention of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and 140
human trafficking. 141
2. For students in grades 7 through 12, teen dating 142
violence and abuse. This component must include, but not be 143
limited to, the definition of d ating violence and abuse, the 144
warning signs of dating violence and abusive behavior, the 145
characteristics of healthy relationships, measures to prevent 146
and stop dating violence and abuse, and community resources 147
available to victims of dating violence and a buse. 148
3. For students in grades 6 through 12, awareness of the 149
benefits of sexual abstinence as the expected standard and the 150
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consequences of teenage pregnancy. 151
4. Life skills that build confidence, support mental and 152
emotional health, and enable stude nts to overcome challenges, 153
including: 154
a. Self-awareness and self-management. 155
b. Responsible decisionmaking. 156
c. Resiliency. 157
d. Relationship skills and conflict resolution. 158
e. Understanding and respecting other viewpoints and 159
backgrounds. 160
f. For grades 9 through 12, developing leadership skills, 161
interpersonal skills, organization skills, and research skills; 162
creating a resume, including a digital resume; exploring career 163
pathways; using state career planning resources; developing and 164
practicing the skills necessary for employment interviews; 165
workplace ethics and workplace law; managing stress and 166
expectations; and self -motivation. 167
168
Health education and life skills instruction and materials may 169
not contradict the principles enumerated in subsection (3). 170
(p)(o) Such additional materials, subjects, courses, or 171
fields in such grades as are prescribed by law or by rules of 172
the State Board of Education and the district school board in 173
fulfilling the requirements of law. 174
(q)(p) The study of Hispanic c ontributions to the United 175
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States. 176
(r)(q) The study of women's contributions to the United 177
States. 178
(s)(r) The nature and importance of free enterprise to the 179
United States economy. 180
(t)(s) Civic and character education on the qualities and 181
responsibilities of patriotism and citizenship, including 182
kindness; respect for authority, life, liberty, and personal 183
property; honesty; charity; racial, ethnic, and religious 184
tolerance; and cooperation and, for grades 11 and 12, voting 185
using the uniform primary and general election ballot described 186
in s. 101.151(9). 187
(u)(t) In order to encourage patriotism, the sacrifices 188
that veterans and Medal of Honor recipients have made in serving 189
our country and protecting democratic values worldwide. Such 190
instruction must occur on or before Medal of Honor Day, 191
Veterans' Day, and Memorial Day. Members of the instructional 192
staff are encouraged to use the assistance of local veterans and 193
Medal of Honor recipients when practicable. 194
195
The State Board of Education is enco uraged to adopt standards 196
and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection. 197
Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the 198
recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is 199
offered as part of a social studies, English La nguage Arts, or 200
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other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness 201
initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u) (t). 202
Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 203
1006.148, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 204
1006.148 Dating violence and abuse prohibited. — 205
(1) Each district school board shall adopt and implement a 206
dating violence and abuse policy. The policy shall: 207
(c) Define dating violence and abuse and provide for a 208
teen dating violence and abuse component in the health e ducation 209
curriculum, according to s. 1003.42(2)(o)2. s. 1003.42(2)(n)2., 210
with emphasis on prevention education. 211
Section 3. Paragraphs (d) and (f) of subsection (1) of 212
section 1014.05, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 213
1014.05 School district not ifications on parental rights. — 214
(1) Each district school board shall, in consultation with 215
parents, teachers, and administrators, develop and adopt a 216
policy to promote parental involvement in the public school 217
system. Such policy must include: 218
(d) Procedures, pursuant to s. 1002.20(3)(d), for a parent 219
to withdraw his or her minor child from any portion of the 220
school district's comprehensive health education required under 221
s. 1003.42(2)(o) s. 1003.42(2)(n) that relates to sex education 222
or instruction in acquired immune deficiency syndrome education 223
or any instruction regarding sexuality if the parent provides a 224
written objection to his or her minor child's participation. 225
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Such procedures must provide for a parent to be notified in 226
advance of such course co ntent so that he or she may withdraw 227
his or her minor child from those portions of the course. 228
(f) Procedures for a parent to learn about parental rights 229
and responsibilities under general law, including all of the 230
following: 231
1. Pursuant to s. 1002.20( 3)(d), the right to opt his or 232
her minor child out of any portion of the school district's 233
comprehensive health education required under s. 1003.42(2)(o) 234
s. 1003.42(2)(n) that relates to sex education instruction in 235
acquired immune deficiency syndrome educ ation or any instruction 236
regarding sexuality. 237
2. A plan to disseminate information, pursuant to s. 238
1002.20(6), about school choice options, including open 239
enrollment. 240
3. In accordance with s. 1002.20(3)(b), the right of a 241
parent to exempt his or her mi nor child from immunizations. 242
4. In accordance with s. 1008.22, the right of a parent to 243
review statewide, standardized assessment results. 244
5. In accordance with s. 1003.57, the right of a parent to 245
enroll his or her minor child in gifted or special ed ucation 246
programs. 247
6. In accordance with s. 1006.28(2)(a)1., the right of a 248
parent to inspect school district instructional materials. 249
7. In accordance with s. 1008.25, the right of a parent to 250
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access information relating to the school district's polici es 251
for promotion or retention, including high school graduation 252
requirements. 253
8. In accordance with s. 1002.20(14), the right of a 254
parent to receive a school report card and be informed of his or 255
her minor child's attendance requirements. 256
9. In accordance with s. 1002.23, the right of a parent to 257
access information relating to the state public education 258
system, state standards, report card requirements, attendance 259
requirements, and instructional materials requirements. 260
10. In accordance with s. 1002.2 3(4), the right of a 261
parent to participate in parent -teacher associations and 262
organizations that are sanctioned by a district school board or 263
the Department of Education. 264
11. In accordance with s. 1002.222(1)(a), the right of a 265
parent to opt out of any d istrict-level data collection relating 266
to his or her minor child not required by law. 267
Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 268