Bill Text: FL S1192 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Required Instruction

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2024-03-08 - Died in Appropriations [S1192 Detail]

Download: Florida-2024-S1192-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2024                                    SB 1192
       
       
        
       By Senator Ingoglia
       
       
       
       
       
       11-00119B-24                                          20241192__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to required instruction; providing a
    3         short title; amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring
    4         instruction on the history of African Americans to
    5         include a comprehensive account of the sociopolitical
    6         circumstances surrounding slavery, including which
    7         political parties supported slavery by adopting pro
    8         slavery tenets as part of their platform; providing an
    9         effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Kamala Harris
   14  Truth in Slavery Teaching Act.”
   15         Section 2. Paragraph (h) of subsection (2) of section
   16  1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   17         1003.42 Required instruction.—
   18         (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
   19  schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
   20  and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
   21  faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
   22  highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
   23  following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
   24  approved methods of instruction, the following:
   25         (h) The history of African Americans, including the history
   26  of African peoples before the political conflicts that led to
   27  the development of slavery;, the passage to America;, the
   28  enslavement experience; a comprehensive account of the
   29  sociopolitical circumstances surrounding slavery, including
   30  which political parties supported slavery by adopting pro
   31  slavery tenets to their party platform;, abolition;, and the
   32  history and contributions of Americans of the African diaspora
   33  to society. Students shall develop an understanding of the
   34  ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping on
   35  individual freedoms, and examine what it means to be a
   36  responsible and respectful person, for the purpose of
   37  encouraging tolerance of diversity in a pluralistic society and
   38  for nurturing and protecting democratic values and institutions.
   39  Instruction shall include the roles and contributions of
   40  individuals from all walks of life and their endeavors to learn
   41  and thrive throughout history as artists, scientists, educators,
   42  businesspeople, influential thinkers, members of the faith
   43  community, and political and governmental leaders and the
   44  courageous steps they took to fulfill the promise of democracy
   45  and unite the nation. Instructional materials shall include the
   46  vital contributions of African Americans to build and strengthen
   47  American society and celebrate the inspirational stories of
   48  African Americans who prospered, even in the most difficult
   49  circumstances. Instructional personnel may facilitate
   50  discussions and use curricula to address, in an age-appropriate
   51  manner, how the individual freedoms of persons have been
   52  infringed by slavery, racial oppression, racial segregation, and
   53  racial discrimination, as well as topics relating to the
   54  enactment and enforcement of laws resulting in racial
   55  oppression, racial segregation, and racial discrimination and
   56  how recognition of these freedoms has overturned these unjust
   57  laws. However, classroom instruction and curriculum may not be
   58  used to indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point
   59  of view inconsistent with the principles enumerated in
   60  subsection (3) or the state academic standards. Each school
   61  district must annually certify and provide evidence to the
   62  department, in a manner prescribed by the department, that the
   63  requirements of this paragraph are met. The department shall
   64  prepare and offer standards and curriculum for the instruction
   65  required by this paragraph and may seek input from the
   66  Commissioner of Education’s African American History Task Force
   67  or from any state or nationally recognized African-American
   68  educational organizations. The department may contract with any
   69  state or nationally recognized African-American educational
   70  organizations to develop training for instructional personnel
   71  and grade-appropriate classroom resources to support the
   72  developed curriculum.
   73  
   74  The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
   75  and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
   76  Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
   77  recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
   78  offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
   79  other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
   80  initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u).
   81         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.