Florida 2025 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H0811 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	HB 811 2025
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8	8	hb811-00
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10	10	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
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14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to education; providing a short title; 2
16	16	amending s. 1000.05, F.S.; removing provisions 3
17	17	relating to prohibited training or instruction in 4
18	18	specified concepts which constitutes discrimination on 5
19	19	the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex ; 6
20	20	repealing s. 1000.071, F.S., relating to personal 7
21	21	titles and pronouns; amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; 8
22	22	prohibiting school districts from adopting a procedure 9
23	23	that compels or authorizes school personnel to share 10
24	24	certain information with a parent under certain 11
25	25	circumstances; removing a provision authorizing school 12
26	26	districts to adopt procedures that permit school 13
27	27	personnel to withhold certain information from a 14
28	28	parent under certain circumstances; removing a 15
29	29	prohibition against classroom instruction on sexual 16
30	30	orientation and gender identity in specified grades; 17
31	31	removing an exception; removing a provision requiring 18
32	32	student support services to adhere to specified 19
33	33	guidelines; amending s. 1001.706, F.S.; removing a 20
34	34	requirement for the Board of Governors to include in 21
35	35	its review of state university missions a directive to 22
36	36	each university regarding its programs for curricula 23
37	37	that violate certain provisions; amending s. 1001.92, 24
38	38	F.S.; removing provisions relating to a state 25
39	39
40	40	HB 811 2025
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45	45	hb811-00
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47	47	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
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49	49
50	50
51	51	university losing its eligibility for performance 26
52	52	funding if a certain violation is substantiated; 27
53	53	amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring instruction in 28
54	54	LGBTQ history in public schools; amending s. 1004.04, 29
55	55	F.S.; removing provisions relating to teacher 30
56	56	preparation program requirements; amending s. 1004.06, 31
57	57	F.S.; authorizing and encouraging Florida College 32
58	58	System institutions, state universities, and direct -33
59	59	support organizations to develop programs and campus 34
60	60	activities based on diversity, equity, and inclusion 35
61	61	principles; authorizing the expenditure of stat e and 36
62	62	federal funds to promote such programs and activities; 37
63	63	removing a prohibition against such institutions, 38
64	64	universities, and organizations expending funds on 39
65	65	programs and campus activities that advocate for 40
66	66	diversity, equity, and inclusion or that prom ote or 41
67	67	engage in political or social activism; amending s. 42
68	68	1004.85, F.S.; removing a requirement that certain 43
69	69	instruction be included in postsecondary educator 44
70	70	preparation institutes; amending s. 1006.28, F.S.; 45
71	71	providing that certain provisions relating to district 46
72	72	school board duties and materials made available in 47
73	73	schools do not apply to classroom libraries; revising 48
74	74	requirements for resolving objections to instructional 49
75	75	materials; removing a requirement that any 50
76	76
77	77	HB 811 2025
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80	80
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84	84	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
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88	88	instructional material that is subject to an objection 51
89	89	be removed within 5 school days; removing a 52
90	90	requirement that a school board discontinue the use of 53
91	91	an instructional material if certain conditions are 54
92	92	met; providing that school libraries may provide 55
93	93	materials and information presenting all po ints of 56
94	94	view; providing that materials may not be proscribed 57
95	95	or removed due to partisan or doctrinal disapproval; 58
96	96	amending s. 1007.25, F.S.; removing certain 59
97	97	prohibitions for general education courses; amending 60
98	98	ss. 1012.56 and 1012.562, F.S.; removing requ irements 61
99	99	for professional learning certificate program courses 62
100	100	and school leader preparation programs; providing an 63
101	101	effective date. 64
102	102	65
103	103	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 66
104	104	67
105	105	Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Freedom to Le arn 68
106	106	Act." 69
107	107	Section 2. Subsection (4) of section 1000.05, Florida 70
108	108	Statutes, is amended to read: 71
109	109	1000.05 Discrimination against students and employees in 72
110	110	the Florida K-20 public education system prohibited; equality of 73
111	111	access required.— 74
112	112	(4)(a) It shall constitute discrimination on the basis of 75
113	113
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121	121	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
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123	123
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125	125	race, color, national origin, or sex under this section to 76
126	126	subject any student or employee to training or instruction that 77
127	127	espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels such 78
128	128	student or employee to believe any of the following concepts: 79
129	129	1. Members of one race, color, national origin, or sex are 80
130	130	morally superior to members of another race, color, national 81
131	131	origin, or sex. 82
132	132	2. A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national 83
133	133	origin, or sex, is inheren tly racist, sexist, or oppressive, 84
134	134	whether consciously or unconsciously. 85
135	135	3. A person's moral character or status as either 86
136	136	privileged or oppressed is necessarily determined by his or her 87
137	137	race, color, national origin, or sex. 88
138	138	4. Members of one race, col or, national origin, or sex 89
139	139	cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to 90
140	140	race, color, national origin, or sex. 91
141	141	5. A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national 92
142	142	origin, or sex, bears responsibility for, or should be 93
143	143	discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of, 94
144	144	actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, 95
145	145	color, national origin, or sex. 96
146	146	6. A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national 97
147	147	origin, or sex, should be discriminated agai nst or receive 98
148	148	adverse treatment to achieve diversity, equity, or inclusion. 99
149	149	7. A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, sex, or 100
150	150
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158	158	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
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162	162	national origin, bears personal responsibility for and must feel 101
163	163	guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distre ss because 102
164	164	of actions, in which the person played no part, committed in the 103
165	165	past by other members of the same race, color, national origin, 104
166	166	or sex. 105
167	167	8. Such virtues as merit, excellence, hard work, fairness, 106
168	168	neutrality, objectivity, and racial colorblindn ess are racist or 107
169	169	sexist, or were created by members of a particular race, color, 108
170	170	national origin, or sex to oppress members of another race, 109
171	171	color, national origin, or sex. 110
172	172	(b) Paragraph (a) may not be construed to prohibit 111
173	173	discussion of the concepts listed therein as part of a larger 112
174	174	course of training or instruction, provided such training or 113
175	175	instruction is given in an objective manner without endorsement 114
176	176	of the concepts. 115
177	177	Section 3. Section 1000.071, Florida Statutes, is 116
178	178	repealed. 117
179	179	Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section 118
180	180	1001.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 119
181	181	1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board. —The 120
182	182	district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all 121
183	183	powers and perform all duties listed below: 122
184	184	(8) STUDENT WELFARE.— 123
185	185	(c)1. In accordance with the rights of parents enumerated 124
186	186	in ss. 1002.20 and 1014.04, adopt procedures for notifying a 125
187	187
188	188	HB 811 2025
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195	195	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
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197	197
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199	199	student's parent if there is a change in the student's services 126
200	200	or monitoring related to the student's mental, emo tional, or 127
201	201	physical health or well -being and the school's ability to 128
202	202	provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the 129
203	203	student. The procedures must reinforce the fundamental right of 130
204	204	parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control 131
205	205	of their children by requiring school district personnel to 132
206	206	encourage a student to discuss issues relating to his or her 133
207	207	well-being with his or her parent or to facilitate discussion of 134
208	208	the issue with the parent. The procedures may not prohibit 135
209	209	parents from accessing any of their student's education and 136
210	210	health records created, maintained, or used by the school 137
211	211	district, as required by s. 1002.22(2). 138
212	212	2. A school district may not adopt procedures or student 139
213	213	support forms that prohibit school district personn el from 140
214	214	notifying a parent about his or her student's mental, emotional, 141
215	215	or physical health or well -being, or a change in related 142
216	216	services or monitoring, or that encourage or have the effect of 143
217	217	encouraging a student to withhold from a parent such 144
218	218	information. School district personnel may not discourage or 145
219	219	prohibit parental notification of and involvement in critical 146
220	220	decisions affecting a student's mental, emotional, or physical 147
221	221	health or well-being. A school district may not adopt a 148
222	222	procedure that compels or authorizes school personnel to provide 149
223	223	such information to a parent if a reasonably prudent person 150
224	224
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232	232	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
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236	236	would believe that disclosure would result in harm to the 151
237	237	student, including, but not limited to, This subparagraph does 152
238	238	not prohibit a school district fr om adopting procedures that 153
239	239	permit school personnel to withhold such information from a 154
240	240	parent if a reasonably prudent person would believe that 155
241	241	disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect, as 156
242	242	those terms are defined in s. 39.01. 157
243	243	3. Classroom instruction by school personnel or third 158
244	244	parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur 159
245	245	in prekindergarten through grade 8, except when required by ss. 160
246	246	1003.42(2)(o)3. and 1003.46. If such instruction is provided in 161
247	247	grades 9 through 12, the instruction must be age -appropriate or 162
248	248	developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with 163
249	249	state standards. This subparagraph applies to charter schools. 164
250	250	4. Student support services training developed or provided 165
251	251	by a school district to schoo l district personnel must adhere to 166
252	252	student services guidelines, standards, and frameworks 167
253	253	established by the Department of Education. 168
254	254	5. At the beginning of the school year, each school 169
255	255	district shall notify parents of each health care service 170
256	256	offered at their student's school and the option to withhold 171
257	257	consent or decline any specific service in accordance with s. 172
258	258	1014.06. Parental consent to a health care service does not 173
259	259	waive the parent's right to access his or her student's 174
260	260	educational or health reco rds or to be notified about a change 175
261	261
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269	269	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
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273	273	in his or her student's services or monitoring as provided by 176
274	274	this paragraph. 177
275	275	4.6. Before administering a student well -being 178
276	276	questionnaire or health screening form to a student in 179
277	277	kindergarten through grade 3, the sch ool district must provide 180
278	278	the questionnaire or health screening form to the parent and 181
279	279	obtain the permission of the parent. 182
280	280	5.7. Each school district shall adopt procedures for a 183
281	281	parent to notify the principal, or his or her designee, 184
282	282	regarding concerns under this paragraph at his or her student's 185
283	283	school and the process for resolving those concerns within 7 186
284	284	calendar days after notification by the parent. 187
285	285	a. At a minimum, the procedures must require that within 188
286	286	30 days after notification by the parent th at the concern 189
287	287	remains unresolved, the school district must either resolve the 190
288	288	concern or provide a statement of the reasons for not resolving 191
289	289	the concern. 192
290	290	b. If a concern is not resolved by the school district, a 193
291	291	parent may: 194
292	292	(I) Request the Commission er of Education to appoint a 195
293	293	special magistrate who is a member of The Florida Bar in good 196
294	294	standing and who has at least 5 years' experience in 197
295	295	administrative law. The special magistrate shall determine facts 198
296	296	relating to the dispute over the school distric t procedure or 199
297	297	practice, consider information provided by the school district, 200
298	298
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306	306	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
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308	308
309	309
310	310	and render a recommended decision for resolution to the State 201
311	311	Board of Education within 30 days after receipt of the request 202
312	312	by the parent. The State Board of Education must app rove or 203
313	313	reject the recommended decision at its next regularly scheduled 204
314	314	meeting that is more than 7 calendar days and no more than 30 205
315	315	days after the date the recommended decision is transmitted. The 206
316	316	costs of the special magistrate shall be borne by the sch ool 207
317	317	district. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules, 208
318	318	including forms, necessary to implement this subparagraph. 209
319	319	(II) Bring an action against the school district to obtain 210
320	320	a declaratory judgment that the school district procedure or 211
321	321	practice violates this paragraph and seek injunctive relief. A 212
322	322	court may award damages and shall award reasonable attorney fees 213
323	323	and court costs to a parent who receives declaratory or 214
324	324	injunctive relief. 215
325	325	c. Each school district shall adopt and post on its 216
326	326	website policies to notify parents of the procedures required 217
327	327	under this subparagraph. 218
328	328	d. Nothing contained in this subparagraph shall be 219
329	329	construed to abridge or alter rights of action or remedies in 220
330	330	equity already existing under the common law or general law. 221
331	331	Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 222
332	332	1001.706, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 223
333	333	1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors. — 224
334	334	(5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY. — 225
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343	343	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
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347	347	(a) The Legislature intends that the Board of Governors 226
348	348	shall align the missions of each constituent university with the 227
349	349	academic success of its students; the existing and emerging 228
350	350	economic development needs of the state; the national reputation 229
351	351	of its faculty and its academic and research programs ; the 230
352	352	quantity of externally generated research, patents, and 231
353	353	licenses; and the strategic and accountability plans required in 232
354	354	paragraphs (b) and (c). The Board of Governors shall 233
355	355	periodically review the mission of each constituent university 234
356	356	and make updates or revisions as needed. Upon completion of a 235
357	357	review of the mission, the board shall review existing academic 236
358	358	programs for alignment with the mission. The board shall include 237
359	359	in its review a directive to each constituent university 238
360	360	regarding its program s for any curriculum that violates s. 239
361	361	1000.05 or that is based on theories that systemic racism, 240
362	362	sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the 241
363	363	institutions of the United States and were created to maintain 242
364	364	social, political, and economic inequities . The mission 243
365	365	alignment and strategic plan must consider peer institutions at 244
366	366	the constituent universities. The mission alignment and 245
367	367	strategic plan must acknowledge that universities that have a 246
368	368	national and international impact have the greatest capacity to 247
369	369	promote the state's economic development through: new 248
370	370	discoveries, patents, licenses, and technologies that generate 249
371	371	state businesses of global importance; research achievements 250
372	372
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380	380	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
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382	382
383	383
384	384	through external grants and contracts that are comparable to 251
385	385	nationally recognized and ranked universities; the creation of a 252
386	386	resource rich academic environment that attracts high -technology 253
387	387	business and venture capital to the state; and this generation's 254
388	388	finest minds focusing on solving the state's economic, social, 255
389	389	environmental, and legal problems in the areas of life sciences, 256
390	390	water, sustainability, energy, and health care. A nationally 257
391	391	recognized and ranked university that has a global perspective 258
392	392	and impact must be afforded the opportunity to enable and 259
393	393	protect the universi ty's competitiveness on the global stage in 260
394	394	fair competition with other institutions of other states in the 261
395	395	highest Carnegie Classification. 262
396	396	Section 6. Subsection (5) of section 1001.92, Florida 263
397	397	Statutes, is amended to read: 264
398	398	1001.92 State University System Performance-Based 265
399	399	Incentive.— 266
400	400	(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, 267
401	401	if any institution is found to have a substantiated violation of 268
402	402	s. 1000.05(4)(a), the institution shall be ineligible to receive 269
403	403	performance funding during the next fiscal year following the 270
404	404	year in which the violation is substantiated. Substantiated 271
405	405	findings are those as determined by a court of law, a standing 272
406	406	committee of the Legislature, or the Board of Governors. 273
407	407	Section 7. Paragraph (g) of subsection ( 2) of section 274
408	408	1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (w) is 275
409	409
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417	417	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
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419	419
420	420
421	421	added to that subsection, to read: 276
422	422	1003.42 Required instruction. — 277
423	423	(2) Members of the instructional staff of the public 278
424	424	schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Educati on 279
425	425	and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and 280
426	426	faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the 281
427	427	highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy, 282
428	428	following the prescribed courses of study, and employing 283
429	429	approved methods of instruction, the following: 284
430	430	(g)1. The history of the Holocaust (1933 -1945), the 285
431	431	systematic, planned annihilation of European Jews and other 286
432	432	groups by Nazi Germany, a watershed event in the history of 287
433	433	humanity, to be taught in a manner that lea ds to an 288
434	434	investigation of human behavior, an understanding of the 289
435	435	ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, and an 290
436	436	examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful 291
437	437	person, for the purposes of encouraging tolerance of diversity 292
438	438	in a pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting 293
439	439	democratic values and institutions, including the policy, 294
440	440	definition, and historical and current examples of antisemitism, 295
441	441	as described in s. 1000.05(7) s. 1000.05(8), and the prevention 296
442	442	of antisemitism. Each school district must annually certify and 297
443	443	provide evidence to the department, in a manner prescribed by 298
444	444	the department, that the requirements of this paragraph are met. 299
445	445	The department shall prepare and offer standards and curriculum 300
446	446
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454	454	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
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458	458	for the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek 301
459	459	input from the Commissioner of Education's Task Force on 302
460	460	Holocaust Education or from any state or nationally recognized 303
461	461	Holocaust educational organizations. The department may contract 304
462	462	with any state or nationa lly recognized Holocaust educational 305
463	463	organizations to develop training for instructional personnel 306
464	464	and grade-appropriate classroom resources to support the 307
465	465	developed curriculum. 308
466	466	2. The second week in November shall be designated as 309
467	467	"Holocaust Education Week" in this state in recognition that 310
468	468	November is the anniversary of Kristallnacht, widely recognized 311
469	469	as a precipitating event that led to the Holocaust. 312
470	470	(w) The study of LGBTQ history in Florida and the LGBTQ 313
471	471	community's contributions to the United St ates, which may 314
472	472	include important United States Supreme Court cases such as 315
473	473	Obergefell v. Hodges and United States v. Windsor ; the Florida 316
474	474	Legislative Investigation Committee; and the tragedy at Pulse 317
475	475	Nightclub. 318
476	476	319
477	477	The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards 320
478	478	and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection. 321
479	479	Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the 322
480	480	recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is 323
481	481	offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or 324
482	482	other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness 325
483	483
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491	491	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
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495	495	initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u). 326
496	496	Section 8. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section 327
497	497	1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amende d to read: 328
498	498	1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for 329
499	499	teacher preparation programs. — 330
500	500	(2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT. — 331
501	501	(e) Teacher preparation program courses: 332
502	502	1. May not distort significant historical events or 333
503	503	include a curriculum or instruction that teaches identity 334
504	504	politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that 335
505	505	systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent 336
506	506	in the institutions of the United States and were created to 337
507	507	maintain social, political, and economic inequities. 338
508	508	2. Must afford candidates the opportunity to think 339
509	509	critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn 340
510	510	instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence . 341
511	511	Section 9. Subsection (4) of section 1004.06, Fl orida 342
512	512	Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (3), and subsections (2) 343
513	513	and (3) of that section are amended to read: 344
514	514	1004.06 Prohibited expenditures. — 345
515	515	(2) A Florida College System institution, state 346
516	516	university, Florida College System institution direct -support 347
517	517	organization, or state university direct -support organization 348
518	518	may, and is encouraged to, develop programs and campus 349
519	519	activities anchored in the principles of diversity, equity, and 350
520	520
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528	528	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
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530	530
531	531
532	532	inclusion. Programs and campus activities may not expend any 351
533	533	state or federal funds to promote, support, or maintain any such 352
534	534	programs or campus activities that: 353
535	535	(a) Violate s. 1000.05; or 354
536	536	(b) Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, or 355
537	537	promote or engage in political or social activism, as defined by 356
538	538	rules of the State Board of Education and regulations of the 357
539	539	Board of Governors. 358
540	540	359
541	541	Student fees to support student -led organizations are permitted 360
542	542	notwithstanding any speech or expressive activity by such 361
543	543	organizations which would otherwise violate this subsection , 362
544	544	provided that the public funds must be allocated to student -led 363
545	545	organizations pursuant to written policies or regulations of 364
546	546	each Florida College System institution or state university, as 365
547	547	applicable. Use of institution facilities by student -led 366
548	548	organizations is permitted notwithstanding any speech or 367
549	549	expressive activity by such organizations which would otherwise 368
550	550	violate this subsection , provided that such use must be granted 369
551	551	to student-led organizations pursuant to written policies or 370
552	552	regulations of each Flor ida College System institution or state 371
553	553	university, as applicable. 372
554	554	(3) Subsection (2) does not prohibit programs, campus 373
555	555	activities, or functions required for compliance with general or 374
556	556	federal laws or regulations; for obtaining or retaining 375
557	557
558	558	HB 811 2025
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560	560
561	561
562	562	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
563	563	hb811-00
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565	565	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
566	566
567	567
568	568
569	569	institutional or discipline-specific accreditation with the 376
570	570	approval of either the State Board of Education or the Board of 377
571	571	Governors; or for access programs for military veterans, Pell 378
572	572	Grant recipients, first generation college students, 379
573	573	nontraditional students, "2+2 " transfer students from the 380
574	574	Florida College System, students from low -income families, or 381
575	575	students with unique abilities. 382
576	576	Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 383
577	577	1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 384
578	578	1004.85 Postsecondary edu cator preparation institutes. — 385
579	579	(2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or 386
580	580	approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek 387
581	581	approval from the Department of Education to create educator 388
582	582	preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all 389
583	583	of the following: 390
584	584	1. Professional learning instruction to assist teachers in 391
585	585	improving classroom instruction and in meeting certification or 392
586	586	recertification requirements. 393
587	587	2. Instruction to assist potential and existing substitute 394
588	588	teachers in performing their duties. 395
589	589	3. Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting 396
590	590	education and training requirements. 397
591	591	4. Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to become 398
592	592	certified teachers as provided in this section in order to 399
593	593	increase routes to the classroom for professionals who hold a 400
594	594
595	595	HB 811 2025
596	596
597	597
598	598
599	599	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
600	600	hb811-00
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602	602	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
603	603
604	604
605	605
606	606	baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were not 401
607	607	education majors. 402
608	608	5. Instruction and professional learning for part -time and 403
609	609	full-time nondegreed teachers of career programs under s. 404
610	610	1012.39(1)(c). 405
611	611	6. Instruction that does not distort significant 406
612	612	historical events or include a curriculum or instruction that 407
613	613	teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on 408
614	614	theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege 409
615	615	are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were 410
616	616	created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities. 411
617	617	Courses and instruction within the educator preparation 412
618	618	institute must afford candidates the opportunity to think 413
619	619	critically, achieve mas tery of academic program content, learn 414
620	620	instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence. 415
621	621	Section 11. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (2) of 416
622	622	section 1006.28, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 417
623	623	1006.28 Duties of district school board, dis trict school 418
624	624	superintendent; and school principal regarding K -12 419
625	625	instructional materials. — 420
626	626	(2) DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD. —The district school board has 421
627	627	the constitutional duty and responsibility to select and provide 422
628	628	adequate instructional materials for all students in accordance 423
629	629	with the requirements of this part. The district school board 424
630	630	also has the following specific duties and responsibilities: 425
631	631
632	632	HB 811 2025
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634	634
635	635
636	636	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
637	637	hb811-00
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639	639	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
640	640
641	641
642	642
643	643	(a) Courses of study; adoption. —Adopt courses of study, 426
644	644	including instructional materials, for use in the sc hools of the 427
645	645	district. 428
646	646	1. Each district school board is responsible for the 429
647	647	content of all instructional materials and any other materials 430
648	648	used in a classroom, made available in a school or classroom 431
649	649	library, or included on a reading list, whether adopte d and 432
650	650	purchased from the state -adopted instructional materials list, 433
651	651	adopted and purchased through a district instructional materials 434
652	652	program under s. 1006.283, or otherwise purchased or made 435
653	653	available. 436
654	654	2. Each district school board must adopt a policy 437
655	655	regarding an objection by a parent or a resident of the county 438
656	656	to the use of a specific material, which clearly describes a 439
657	657	process to handle all objections and provides for resolution. 440
658	658	The objection form, as prescribed by State Board of Education 441
659	659	rule, and the district school board's process must be easy to 442
660	660	read and understand and be easily accessible on the homepage of 443
661	661	the school district's website. The objection form must also 444
662	662	identify the school district point of contact and contact 445
663	663	information for the s ubmission of an objection. The process must 446
664	664	provide the parent or resident the opportunity to proffer 447
665	665	evidence to the district school board that: 448
666	666	a. An instructional material does not meet the criteria of 449
667	667	s. 1006.31(2) or s. 1006.40(3)(c) if it was selec ted for use in 450
668	668
669	669	HB 811 2025
670	670
671	671
672	672
673	673	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
674	674	hb811-00
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676	676	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
677	677
678	678
679	679
680	680	a course or otherwise made available to students in the school 451
681	681	district but was not subject to the public notice, review, 452
682	682	comment, and hearing procedures under s. 1006.283(2)(b)8., 9., 453
683	683	and 11. 454
684	684	b. Any material used in a classroom, made avai lable in a 455
685	685	school or classroom library, or included on a reading list 456
686	686	contains content which: 457
687	687	(I) Is pornographic or prohibited under s. 847.012; 458
688	688	(II) Depicts or describes sexual conduct as defined in s. 459
689	689	847.001(19), unless such material is for a cours e required by s. 460
690	690	1003.46 or s. 1003.42(2)(o)1.g. or 3., or identified by State 461
691	691	Board of Education rule; 462
692	692	(III) Is not suited to student needs and their ability to 463
693	693	comprehend the material presented; or 464
694	694	(III)(IV) Is inappropriate for the grade level and a ge 465
695	695	group for which the material is used. 466
696	696	467
697	697	A resident of the county who is not the parent or guardian of a 468
698	698	student with access to school district materials may not object 469
699	699	to more than one material per month. The State Board of 470
700	700	Education may adopt rules to i mplement this provision. Any 471
701	701	material that is subject to an objection on the basis of sub -472
702	702	sub-subparagraph b.(I) or sub -sub-subparagraph b.(II) must be 473
703	703	removed within 5 school days after receipt of the objection and 474
704	704	remain unavailable to students of that s chool until the 475
705	705
706	706	HB 811 2025
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708	708
709	709
710	710	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
711	711	hb811-00
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713	713	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
714	714
715	715
716	716
717	717	objection is resolved. Parents shall have the right to read 476
718	718	passages from any material that is subject to an objection. If 477
719	719	the school board denies a parent the right to read passages due 478
720	720	to content that meets the requirements under sub -sub-479
721	721	subparagraph b.(I), the school district shall discontinue the 480
722	722	use of the material in the school district. If the district 481
723	723	school board finds that any material meets the requirements 482
724	724	under sub-subparagraph a. or that any other material contains 483
725	725	prohibited content under sub-sub-subparagraph b.(I), the school 484
726	726	district shall discontinue use of the material. If the district 485
727	727	school board finds that any other material contains prohibited 486
728	728	content under sub-sub-subparagraphs b.(II) -(IV), the school 487
729	729	district shall discontinue use of the material for any grade 488
730	730	level or age group for which such use is inappropriate or 489
731	731	unsuitable. 490
732	732	3. Each district school board must establish a process by 491
733	733	which the parent of a public school student or a resident of the 492
734	734	county may contest the district school board's adoption of a 493
735	735	specific instructional material. The parent or resident must 494
736	736	file a petition, on a form provided by the school board, within 495
737	737	30 calendar days after the adoption of the instructional 496
738	738	material by the school board. The school board must make the 497
739	739	form available to the public and publish the form on the school 498
740	740	district's website. The form must be signed by the parent or 499
741	741	resident, include the required contact information, and state 500
742	742
743	743	HB 811 2025
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745	745
746	746
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748	748	hb811-00
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750	750	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
751	751
752	752
753	753
754	754	the objection to the instructional mat erial based on the 501
755	755	criteria of s. 1006.31(2) or s. 1006.40(3)(c). Within 30 days 502
756	756	after the 30-day period has expired, the school board must, for 503
757	757	all petitions timely received, conduct at least one open public 504
758	758	hearing before an unbiased and qualified hearin g officer. The 505
759	759	hearing officer may not be an employee or agent of the school 506
760	760	district. The hearing is not subject to the provisions of 507
761	761	chapter 120; however, the hearing must provide sufficient 508
762	762	procedural protections to allow each petitioner an adequate and 509
763	763	fair opportunity to be heard and present evidence to the hearing 510
764	764	officer. The school board's decision after convening a hearing 511
765	765	is final and not subject to further petition or review. 512
766	766	4. Meetings of committees convened for the purpose of 513
767	767	ranking, eliminating, or selecting instructional materials for 514
768	768	recommendation to the district school board must be noticed and 515
769	769	open to the public in accordance with s. 286.011. Any committees 516
770	770	convened for such purposes must include parents of students who 517
771	771	will have access to such materials. 518
772	772	5. Meetings of committees convened for the purpose of 519
773	773	resolving an objection by a parent or resident to specific 520
774	774	materials must be noticed and open to the public in accordance 521
775	775	with s. 286.011. Any committees convened for such purpose s must 522
776	776	include parents of students who will have access to such 523
777	777	materials. 524
778	778	6. If a parent disagrees with the determination made by 525
779	779
780	780	HB 811 2025
781	781
782	782
783	783
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785	785	hb811-00
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787	787	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
788	788
789	789
790	790
791	791	the district school board on the objection to the use of a 526
792	792	specific material, a parent may request the Commissioner of 527
793	793	Education to appoint a special magistrate who is a member of The 528
794	794	Florida Bar in good standing and who has at least 5 years' 529
795	795	experience in administrative law. The special magistrate shall 530
796	796	determine facts relating to the school district's determination, 531
797	797	consider information provided by the parent and the school 532
798	798	district, and render a recommended decision for resolution to 533
799	799	the State Board of Education within 30 days after receipt of the 534
800	800	request by the parent. The State Board of Education must approve 535
801	801	or reject the recommended decision at its next regularly 536
802	802	scheduled meeting that is more than 7 calendar days and no more 537
803	803	than 30 days after the date the recommended decision is 538
804	804	transmitted. The costs of the special magistrate shall be borne 539
805	805	by the school district. The State Board of Education shall adopt 540
806	806	rules, including forms, necessary to implement this 541
807	807	subparagraph. 542
808	808	(d) School library media services; establishment and 543
809	809	maintenance.—Establish and maintain a program of school library 544
810	810	media services for all public scho ols in the district, including 545
811	811	school library media centers, or school library media centers 546
812	812	open to the public, and, in addition such traveling or 547
813	813	circulating libraries as may be needed for the proper operation 548
814	814	of the district school system. Beginning Jan uary 1, 2023, school 549
815	815	librarians, media specialists, and other personnel involved in 550
816	816
817	817	HB 811 2025
818	818
819	819
820	820
821	821	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
822	822	hb811-00
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824	824	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
825	825
826	826
827	827
828	828	the selection of school district library materials must complete 551
829	829	the training program developed pursuant to s. 1006.29(6) before 552
830	830	reviewing and selecting age -appropriate materials and library 553
831	831	resources. Upon written request, a school district shall provide 554
832	832	access to any material or book specified in the request that is 555
833	833	maintained in a district school system library and is available 556
834	834	for review. 557
835	835	1. Each book made available to students through a school 558
836	836	district library media center or included in a recommended or 559
837	837	assigned school or grade -level reading list must be selected by 560
838	838	a school district employee who holds a valid educational media 561
839	839	specialist certificate, regardless of wh ether the book is 562
840	840	purchased, donated, or otherwise made available to students. 563
841	841	2. Each district school board shall adopt procedures for 564
842	842	developing library media center collections and post the 565
843	843	procedures on the website for each school within the district . 566
844	844	School libraries may provide materials and information 567
845	845	presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. 568
846	846	Materials may not be proscribed or removed because of partisan 569
847	847	or doctrinal disapproval. The procedures must: 570
848	848	a. Require that book se lections meet the criteria in s. 571
849	849	1006.40(3)(c). 572
850	850	b. Require consultation of reputable, professionally 573
851	851	recognized reviewing periodicals and school community 574
852	852	stakeholders. 575
853	853
854	854	HB 811 2025
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856	856
857	857
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861	861	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
862	862
863	863
864	864
865	865	c. Provide for library media center collections, including 576
866	866	classroom libraries, bas ed on reader interest, support of state 577
867	867	academic standards and aligned curriculum, and the academic 578
868	868	needs of students and faculty. 579
869	869	d. Provide for the regular removal or discontinuance of 580
870	870	books based on, at a minimum, physical condition, rate of recent 581
871	871	circulation, alignment to state academic standards and relevancy 582
872	872	to curriculum, out-of-date content, and required removal 583
873	873	pursuant to subparagraph (a)2. 584
874	874	3. Each elementary school must publish on its website, in 585
875	875	a searchable format prescribed by the departm ent, a list of all 586
876	876	materials maintained and accessible in the school library media 587
877	877	center or a classroom library or required as part of a school or 588
878	878	grade-level reading list. 589
879	879	4. Each district school board shall adopt and publish on 590
880	880	its website the process for a parent to limit his or her 591
881	881	student's access to materials in the school or classroom 592
882	882	library. 593
883	883	Section 12. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section 594
884	884	1007.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 595
885	885	1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites; 596
886	886	other degree requirements. — 597
887	887	(3) The chair of the State Board of Education and the 598
888	888	chair of the Board of Governors, or their designees, shall 599
889	889	jointly appoint faculty committees to review and recommend to 600
890	890
891	891	HB 811 2025
892	892
893	893
894	894
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898	898	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
899	899
900	900
901	901
902	902	the Articulation Coordinating Committee for approval by the 601
903	903	State Board of Education and the Board of Governors statewide 602
904	904	general education core course options for inclusion in the 603
905	905	statewide course numbering system es tablished under s. 1007.24. 604
906	906	Faculty committees shall, by July 1, 2024, and by July 1 every 4 605
907	907	years thereafter, review and submit recommendations to the 606
908	908	Articulation Coordinating Committee and the commissioner for the 607
909	909	removal, alignment, realignment, or add ition of general 608
910	910	education core courses that satisfy the requirements of this 609
911	911	subsection. 610
912	912	(c) General education core courses may not distort 611
913	913	significant historical events or include a curriculum that 612
914	914	teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on 613
915	915	theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege 614
916	916	are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were 615
917	917	created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities. 616
918	918	Section 13. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section 617
919	919	1012.56, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph (b), and 618
920	920	paragraph (a) of subsection (7) and present paragraph (b) of 619
921	921	subsection (8) of that section are amended to read: 620
922	922	1012.56 Educator certification requirements. — 621
923	923	(7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.— 622
924	924	(a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional 623
925	925	certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant 624
926	926	who fulfills one of the following: 625
927	927
928	928	HB 811 2025
929	929
930	930
931	931
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935	935	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
936	936
937	937
938	938
939	939	1. Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in 626
940	940	subsection (2). 627
941	941	2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 628
942	942	through 12: 629
943	943	a. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a) -630
944	944	(h). 631
945	945	b. Holds a master's or higher degree in the area of 632
946	946	science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. 633
947	947	c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the 634
948	948	advanced degree. 635
949	949	d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the 636
950	950	teacher's performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part 637
951	951	on student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized 638
952	952	assessment or an Advanced Pla cement, Advanced International 639
953	953	Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate 640
954	954	examination. 641
955	955	e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional 642
956	956	education competency examination required by state board rule. 643
957	957	3. Meets the applicable requirem ents of paragraphs (2)(a) -644
958	958	(h) and completes a professional learning certification program 645
959	959	approved by the department pursuant to paragraph (8)(b) (8)(c) 646
960	960	or an educator preparation institute approved by the department 647
961	961	pursuant to s. 1004.85. An applicant wh o completes one of these 648
962	962	programs and is rated highly effective as determined by his or 649
963	963	her performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 is not required to 650
964	964
965	965	HB 811 2025
966	966
967	967
968	968
969	969	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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972	972	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
973	973
974	974
975	975
976	976	take or achieve a passing score on the professional education 651
977	977	competency examination in order to be award ed a professional 652
978	978	certificate. 653
979	979	654
980	980	At least 1 year before an individual's temporary certificate is 655
981	981	set to expire, the department shall electronically notify the 656
982	982	individual of the date on which his or her certificate will 657
983	983	expire and provide a list of each meth od by which the 658
984	984	qualifications for a professional certificate can be completed. 659
985	985	(8) PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. — 660
986	986	(b) Professional learning certification program courses: 661
987	987	1. May not distort significant historical events or 662
988	988	include curriculum or instruction that teaches identity 663
989	989	politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that 664
990	990	systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent 665
991	991	in the institutions of the United States and were created to 666
992	992	maintain social, political , and economic inequities. 667
993	993	2. Must afford candidates the opportunity to think 668
994	994	critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn 669
995	995	instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence. 670
996	996	Section 14. Subsection (4) of section 1012.562, Florida 671
997	997	Statutes, is amended to read: 672
998	998	1012.562 Public accountability and state approval of 673
999	999	school leader preparation programs. —The Department of Education 674
1000	1000	shall establish a process for the approval of Level I and Level 675
1001	1001
1002	1002	HB 811 2025
1003	1003
1004	1004
1005	1005
1006	1006	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1009	1009	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
1010	1010
1011	1011
1012	1012
1013	1013	II school leader preparation programs that will enable aspiring 676
1014	1014	school leaders to obtain their certificates in educational 677
1015	1015	leadership under s. 1012.56. School leader preparation programs 678
1016	1016	must be competency-based, aligned to the principal leadership 679
1017	1017	standards adopted by the state board, and open to individuals 680
1018	1018	employed by public schools, including charter schools and 681
1019	1019	virtual schools. Level I programs lead to initial certification 682
1020	1020	in educational leadership for the purpose of preparing 683
1021	1021	individuals to serve as school administrators. Level II programs 684
1022	1022	build upon Level I training and lead to renewal certification as 685
1023	1023	a school principal. 686
1024	1024	(4) PROGRAM PROHIBITIONS; REQUIREMENTS. — 687
1025	1025	(a) School leader preparation programs may not distort 688
1026	1026	significant historical events or include curriculum or 689
1027	1027	instruction that teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, 690
1028	1028	or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, 691
1029	1029	oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of 692
1030	1030	the United States and were created to maintain social, 693
1031	1031	political, and economic inequities. 694
1032	1032	(b) School leader preparation programs must afford 695
1033	1033	candidates the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of program 696
1034	1034	content, including instructional leadership strategies, coaching 697
1035	1035	development, school safety, and continuous improvement efforts. 698
1036	1036	Section 15. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 699