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