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