Bill Text: FL S1058 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Required K-12 Instruction
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2017-05-05 - Died in Education [S1058 Detail]
Download: Florida-2017-S1058-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2017 SB 1058
By Senator Powell
30-01165-17 20171058__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to required K-12 instruction; amending
3 s. 1003.42, F.S.; revising the requirements for
4 instruction relating to the history of the continent
5 of Africa to include specified contents relating to
6 the enslavement of African persons; revising the
7 requirements for the curriculum of a required
8 character-development program to include the history
9 of Africa and contributions of African Americans;
10 providing an effective date.
11
12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14 Section 1. Paragraphs (h) and (s) of subsection (2) of
15 section 1003.42, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
16 1003.42 Required instruction.—
17 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
18 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
19 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
20 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
21 highest standards for professionalism and historic accuracy,
22 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
23 approved methods of instruction, the following:
24 (h) The history of the continent of Africa African
25 Americans, including the history of African peoples before the
26 political conflicts that led to the development of slavery
27 around the world and in the United States. The curriculum must
28 include, but not be limited to, the passage of enslaved persons
29 to America, the enslavement experience, abolition, and the many
30 contributions of African Americans globally and in the United
31 States to society. Instructional materials shall include the
32 contributions of African Americans to the American and global
33 societies society.
34 (s) A character-development program in the elementary
35 schools, similar to Character First or Character Counts, which
36 is secular in nature. Beginning in school year 2004-2005, the
37 character-development program shall be required in kindergarten
38 through grade 12. Each district school board shall develop or
39 adopt a curriculum for the character-development program that
40 shall be submitted to the department for approval. The
41 character-development curriculum shall stress the qualities of
42 patriotism; responsibility; citizenship; kindness; respect for
43 authority, life, liberty, and personal property; honesty;
44 charity; self-control; racial, ethnic, and religious tolerance;
45 and cooperation; and the history of Africa and contributions of
46 African Americans as specified in paragraph (h). The character
47 development curriculum for grades 9 through 12 shall, at a
48 minimum, include instruction on developing leadership skills,
49 interpersonal skills, organization skills, and research skills;
50 creating a resume; developing and practicing the skills
51 necessary for employment interviews; conflict resolution,
52 workplace ethics, and workplace law; managing stress and
53 expectations; and developing skills that enable students to
54 become more resilient and self-motivated.
55
56 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
57 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
58 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.
