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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; providing requirements for such 6
instruction; amending ss. 1006.148 and 1014.05, F.S.; 7
conforming cross-references; providing an effective 8
date. 9
10
Be It Enacted by the Legislature o f the State of Florida: 11
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Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 1003.42, Florida 13
Statutes, is amended to read: 14
1003.42 Required instruction. — 15
(2) Members of the instructional staff of the public 16
schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Edu cation 17
and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and 18
faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the 19
highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy, 20
following the prescribed courses of study, and employing 21
approved methods of instruction, the following: 22
(a) The history and content of the Declaration of 23
Independence, including national sovereignty, natural law, self -24
evident truth, equality of all persons, limited government, 25
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popular sovereignty, and inalienable rights of life, liberty, 26
and property, and how they form the philosophical foundation of 27
our government. 28
(b) The history, meaning, significance, and effect of the 29
provisions of the Constitution of the United States and 30
amendments thereto, with emphasis o n each of the 10 amendments 31
that make up the Bill of Rights and how the constitution 32
provides the structure of our government. 33
(c) The arguments in support of adopting our republican 34
form of government, as they are embodied in the most important 35
of the Federalist Papers. 36
(d) Flag education, including proper flag display and flag 37
salute. 38
(e) The elements of civil government, including the 39
primary functions of and interrelationships between the Federal 40
Government, the state, and its counties, municipali ties, school 41
districts, and special districts. 42
(f) The history of the United States, including the period 43
of discovery, early colonies, the War for Independence, the 44
Civil War, the expansion of the United States to its present 45
boundaries, the world wars, and the civil rights movement to the 46
present. American history shall be viewed as factual, not as 47
constructed, shall be viewed as knowable, teachable, and 48
testable, and shall be defined as the creation of a new nation 49
based largely on the universal princi ples stated in the 50
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Declaration of Independence. 51
(g)1. The history of the Holocaust (1933 -1945), the 52
systematic, planned annihilation of European Jews and other 53
groups by Nazi Germany, a watershed event in the history of 54
humanity, to be taught in a manner that leads to an 55
investigation of human behavior, an understanding of the 56
ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, and an 57
examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful 58
person, for the purposes of encouraging tolerance of div ersity 59
in a pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting 60
democratic values and institutions, including the policy, 61
definition, and historical and current examples of anti -62
Semitism, as described in s. 1000.05(8), and the prevention of 63
anti-Semitism. Each school district must annually certify and 64
provide evidence to the department, in a manner prescribed by 65
the department, that the requirements of this paragraph are met. 66
The department shall prepare and offer standards and curriculum 67
for the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek 68
input from the Commissioner of Education's Task Force on 69
Holocaust Education or from any state or nationally recognized 70
Holocaust educational organizations. The department may contract 71
with any state or nationally recognized Holocaust educational 72
organizations to develop training for instructional personnel 73
and grade-appropriate classroom resources to support the 74
developed curriculum. 75
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2. The second week in November shall be designated as 76
"Holocaust Education Week " in this state in recognition that 77
November is the anniversary of Kristallnacht, widely recognized 78
as a precipitating event that led to the Holocaust. 79
(h) The history of African Americans, including the 80
history of African peoples before the political co nflicts that 81
led to the development of slavery, the passage to America, the 82
enslavement experience, abolition, and the history and 83
contributions of Americans of the African diaspora to society. 84
Students shall develop an understanding of the ramifications o f 85
prejudice, racism, and stereotyping on individual freedoms, and 86
examine what it means to be a responsible and respectful person, 87
for the purpose of encouraging tolerance of diversity in a 88
pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting democratic 89
values and institutions. Instruction shall include the roles and 90
contributions of individuals from all walks of life and their 91
endeavors to learn and thrive throughout history as artists, 92
scientists, educators, businesspeople, influential thinkers, 93
members of the faith community, and political and governmental 94
leaders and the courageous steps they took to fulfill the 95
promise of democracy and unite the nation. Instructional 96
materials shall include the vital contributions of African 97
Americans to build and stren gthen American society and celebrate 98
the inspirational stories of African Americans who prospered, 99
even in the most difficult circumstances. Instructional 100
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personnel may facilitate discussions and use curricula to 101
address, in an age-appropriate manner, how the individual 102
freedoms of persons have been infringed by slavery, racial 103
oppression, racial segregation, and racial discrimination, as 104
well as topics relating to the enactment and enforcement of laws 105
resulting in racial oppression, racial segregation, and racial 106
discrimination and how recognition of these freedoms has 107
overturned these unjust laws. However, classroom instruction and 108
curriculum may not be used to indoctrinate or persuade students 109
to a particular point of view inconsistent with the principles 110
enumerated in subsection (3) or the state academic standards. 111
The department shall prepare and offer standards and curriculum 112
for the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek 113
input from the Commissioner of Education's African American 114
History Task Force. 115
(i) The history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, 116
including the history of Japanese internment camps and the 117
incarceration of Japanese -Americans during World War II; the 118
immigration, citizenship, civil rights, identity, and culture of 119
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; and the contributions of 120
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to American society. 121
Instructional materials shall include the contributions of Asian 122
Americans and Pacific Islanders to American society. 123
(j)(i) The elementary principles of agriculture. 124
(k)(j) The true effects of all alcoholic and intoxicating 125
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liquors and beverages and narcotics upon the human body and 126
mind. 127
(l)(k) Kindness to animals. 128
(m)(l) The history of the state. 129
(n)(m) The conservation of natural resources. 130
(o)(n) Comprehensive age-appropriate and developmentally 131
appropriate K-12 instruction on: 132
1. Health education that addresses concepts of community 133
health, consumer health, environmental health, and family life, 134
including: 135
a. Injury prevention and safety. 136
b. Internet safety. 137
c. Nutrition. 138
d. Personal health. 139
e. Prevention and control of disease. 140
f. Substance use and abuse. 141
g. Prevention of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and 142
human trafficking. 143
2. For students in grades 7 through 12, teen dating 144
violence and abuse. This component must include, but not be 145
limited to, the definition of dating violence and abuse, the 146
warning signs of dating violence and abusive behavior, the 147
characteristics of healthy relationships , measures to prevent 148
and stop dating violence and abuse, and community resources 149
available to victims of dating violence and abuse. 150
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3. For students in grades 6 through 12, awareness of the 151
benefits of sexual abstinence as the expected standard and the 152
consequences of teenage pregnancy. 153
4. Life skills that build confidence, support mental and 154
emotional health, and enable students to overcome challenges, 155
including: 156
a. Self-awareness and self-management. 157
b. Responsible decisionmaking. 158
c. Resiliency. 159
d. Relationship skills and conflict resolution. 160
e. Understanding and respecting other viewpoints and 161
backgrounds. 162
f. For grades 9 through 12, developing leadership skills, 163
interpersonal skills, organization skills, and research skills; 164
creating a resume, including a digital resume; exploring career 165
pathways; using state career planning resources; developing and 166
practicing the skills necessary for employment interviews; 167
workplace ethics and workplace law; managing stress and 168
expectations; and self -motivation. 169
170
Health education and life skills instruction and materials may 171
not contradict the principles enumerated in subsection (3). 172
(p)(o) Such additional materials, subjects, courses, or 173
fields in such grades as are prescribed by law or by rules of 174
the State Board of Education and the district school board in 175
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fulfilling the requirements of law. 176
(q)(p) The study of Hispanic contributions to the United 177
States. 178
(r)(q) The study of women's contributions to the United 179
States. 180
(s)(r) The nature and importance of free enterprise to the 181
United States economy. 182
(t)(s) Civic and character education on the qualities and 183
responsibilities of patriotism and citizenship, including 184
kindness; respect for authority, life, liberty, and personal 185
property; honesty; charity; racial, ethnic, and religious 186
tolerance; and cooperation and, for grades 11 and 12, voting 187
using the uniform primary and general election ballot described 188
in s. 101.151(9). 189
(u)(t) In order to encourage patriotism, the sacrific es 190
that veterans and Medal of Honor recipients have made in serving 191
our country and protecting democratic values worldwide. Such 192
instruction must occur on or before Medal of Honor Day, 193
Veterans' Day, and Memorial Day. Members of the instructional 194
staff are encouraged to use the assistance of local veterans and 195
Medal of Honor recipients when practicable. 196
197
The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards 198
and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection. 199
Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the 200
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recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is 201
offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or 202
other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness 203
initiative meets the requirements of paragrap h (u) (t). 204
Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 205
1006.148, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 206
1006.148 Dating violence and abuse prohibited. — 207
(1) Each district school board shall adopt and implement a 208
dating violence and abuse po licy. The policy shall: 209
(c) Define dating violence and abuse and provide for a 210
teen dating violence and abuse component in the health education 211
curriculum, according to s. 1003.42(2)(o)2. s. 1003.42(2)(n)2., 212
with emphasis on prevention education. 213
Section 3. Paragraphs (d) and (f) of subsection (1) of 214
section 1014.05, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 215
1014.05 School district notifications on parental rights. — 216
(1) Each district school board shall, in consultation with 217
parents, teachers, and adm inistrators, develop and adopt a 218
policy to promote parental involvement in the public school 219
system. Such policy must include: 220
(d) Procedures, pursuant to s. 1002.20(3)(d), for a parent 221
to withdraw his or her minor child from any portion of the 222
school district's comprehensive health education required under 223
s. 1003.42(2)(o) s. 1003.42(2)(n) that relates to sex education 224
or instruction in acquired immune deficiency syndrome education 225
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or any instruction regarding sexuality if the parent provides a 226
written objection to his or her minor child's participation. 227
Such procedures must provide for a parent to be notified in 228
advance of such course content so that he or she may withdraw 229
his or her minor child from those portions of the course. 230
(f) Procedures for a p arent to learn about parental rights 231
and responsibilities under general law, including all of the 232
following: 233
1. Pursuant to s. 1002.20(3)(d), the right to opt his or 234
her minor child out of any portion of the school district's 235
comprehensive health educati on required under s. 1003.42(2)(o) 236
s. 1003.42(2)(n) that relates to sex education instruction in 237
acquired immune deficiency syndrome education or any instruction 238
regarding sexuality. 239
2. A plan to disseminate information, pursuant to s. 240
1002.20(6), about school choice options, including open 241
enrollment. 242
3. In accordance with s. 1002.20(3)(b), the right of a 243
parent to exempt his or her minor child from immunizations. 244
4. In accordance with s. 1008.22, the right of a parent to 245
review statewide, standardiz ed assessment results. 246
5. In accordance with s. 1003.57, the right of a parent to 247
enroll his or her minor child in gifted or special education 248
programs. 249
6. In accordance with s. 1006.28(2)(a)1., the right of a 250
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parent to inspect school district instruct ional materials. 251
7. In accordance with s. 1008.25, the right of a parent to 252
access information relating to the school district's policies 253
for promotion or retention, including high school graduation 254
requirements. 255
8. In accordance with s. 1002.20(14), t he right of a 256
parent to receive a school report card and be informed of his or 257
her minor child's attendance requirements. 258
9. In accordance with s. 1002.23, the right of a parent to 259
access information relating to the state public education 260
system, state standards, report card requirements, attendance 261
requirements, and instructional materials requirements. 262
10. In accordance with s. 1002.23(4), the right of a 263
parent to participate in parent -teacher associations and 264
organizations that are sanctioned by a di strict school board or 265
the Department of Education. 266
11. In accordance with s. 1002.222(1)(a), the right of a 267
parent to opt out of any district -level data collection relating 268
to his or her minor child not required by law. 269
Section 4. This act shall tak e effect July 1, 2023. 270