Bill Text: FL S0804 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Required African-American Instruction

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2023-05-05 - Died in Fiscal Policy, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 551 (Ch. 2023-103) [S0804 Detail]

Download: Florida-2023-S0804-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2023                                     SB 804
       
       
        
       By Senator Simon
       
       
       
       
       
       3-01652-23                                             2023804__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to required African-American
    3         instruction; amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring each
    4         school district to certify and provide certain
    5         evidence to the Department of Education regarding
    6         certain instruction; authorizing the department to
    7         seek input from and contract with certain educational
    8         organizations for specified purposes; providing an
    9         effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Paragraph (h) of subsection (2) of section
   14  1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   15         1003.42 Required instruction.—
   16         (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
   17  schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
   18  and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
   19  faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
   20  highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
   21  following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
   22  approved methods of instruction, the following:
   23         (h) The history of African Americans, including the history
   24  of African peoples before the political conflicts that led to
   25  the development of slavery, the passage to America, the
   26  enslavement experience, abolition, and the history and
   27  contributions of Americans of the African diaspora to society.
   28  Students shall develop an understanding of the ramifications of
   29  prejudice, racism, and stereotyping on individual freedoms, and
   30  examine what it means to be a responsible and respectful person,
   31  for the purpose of encouraging tolerance of diversity in a
   32  pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting democratic
   33  values and institutions. Instruction shall include the roles and
   34  contributions of individuals from all walks of life and their
   35  endeavors to learn and thrive throughout history as artists,
   36  scientists, educators, businesspeople, influential thinkers,
   37  members of the faith community, and political and governmental
   38  leaders and the courageous steps they took to fulfill the
   39  promise of democracy and unite the nation. Instructional
   40  materials shall include the vital contributions of African
   41  Americans to build and strengthen American society and celebrate
   42  the inspirational stories of African Americans who prospered,
   43  even in the most difficult circumstances. Instructional
   44  personnel may facilitate discussions and use curricula to
   45  address, in an age-appropriate manner, how the individual
   46  freedoms of persons have been infringed by slavery, racial
   47  oppression, racial segregation, and racial discrimination, as
   48  well as topics relating to the enactment and enforcement of laws
   49  resulting in racial oppression, racial segregation, and racial
   50  discrimination and how recognition of these freedoms has
   51  overturned these unjust laws. However, classroom instruction and
   52  curriculum may not be used to indoctrinate or persuade students
   53  to a particular point of view inconsistent with the principles
   54  enumerated in subsection (3) or the state academic standards.
   55  Each school district must annually certify and provide evidence
   56  to the department, in a manner prescribed by the department,
   57  that the requirements of this paragraph are met. The department
   58  shall prepare and offer standards and curriculum for the
   59  instruction required by this paragraph and may seek input from
   60  the Commissioner of Education’s African American History Task
   61  Force or from any state or nationally recognized African
   62  American educational organizations. The department may contract
   63  with any state or nationally recognized African-American
   64  educational organizations to develop training for instructional
   65  personnel and grade-appropriate classroom resources to support
   66  the developed curriculum.
   67  
   68  The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
   69  and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
   70  Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
   71  recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
   72  offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
   73  other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
   74  initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (t).
   75         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.