The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Education Pre-K -12
BILL: SB 294
INTRODUCER: Senator Rodriguez and others
SUBJECT: Required Instruction in the History of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
DATE: March 3, 2023 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Bouck ED Favorable
2. AED
3. RC
I. Summary:
SB 294 requires public schools to provide instruction on the history of Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders, including the immigration, citizenship, civil rights, identity, and culture of
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Additionally, the bill requires instructional materials to
include the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to American society.
The bill has no impact on state revenues or expenditures. The bill may have a fiscal impact on
school districts. See Section V.
This bill is effective July 1, 2023.
II. Present Situation:
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Almost eight percent of the United States population is comprised of Asians and Pacific
Islanders, with Florida’s population being made up of nearly four percent of Asians and Pacific
Islanders.1 Asian Americans are the fastest-growing major racial or ethnic group in the United
States.2 More than 22 million Asians live in the United States and almost all trace their roots to
specific countries or populations from East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.3
Every May, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month is celebrated to
commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843,
1
United States Census Bureau, Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census,
https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html
(last visited February 21, 2023).
2
Pew Research Center, Key facts about Asian origin groups in the U.S., https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-
tank/2021/04/29/key-facts-about-asian-origin-groups-in-the-u-s/ (last visited February 21, 2023).
3
Id.
BILL: SB 294 Page 2
and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the
workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.4 Among some of the AAPI communities’
contributions to America’s rich heritage are:5
Birthright Citizenship: After a year-long battle between Wong Kim Ark (born in San
Francisco to Chinese immigrants) and the U.S. Justice Department, the U.S. Supreme Court
ruled in 1898 that children born in America to foreigners were U.S. citizens.
Technology: Taiwanese American Jerry Yang co-founded the web portal Yahoo! and
Taiwanese American Steven Chen co-founded the video-sharing platform YouTube.
Architecture: Chinese American I.M. Pei designed the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and
Museum, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Pyramid at the Louvre in
Paris. Japanese American Minoru Yamasaki designed the original World Trade Center.
Fashion: Chinese American fashion designer Vera Wang is best known for her bridal wear,
and Thailand born designer Phillip Lim and his partner, Wen Zhou, grew their fledgling start-
up to a successful international brand.
States Requiring Instruction on Asian American and Pacific Islander History
In July 2021, Illinois became the first state to require Asian American history to be taught in
public schools by requiring every public elementary and high school in Illinois to include a unit
on the history of Asian Americans, including their history in Illinois and the Midwest.6
New Jersey, Connecticut, and Rhode Island all passed legislation in 2022 to mandate the
instruction of AAPI contributions and history in K-12 schools.7
New Jersey passed legislation that requires school districts to provide K-12 instruction on the
history and contributions of AAPIs as part of the implementation of New Jersey Student
Learning Standards in Social Studies and establishes the Commission for Asian American
Heritage within the state Department of Education.8
The legislation passed by Rhode Island requires every public elementary and secondary school to
teach at least one unit of instruction on the history and culture of AAPIs.9 Under this new
4
Food Safety and Inspection Service U.S. Department of Agriculture, Asian American and Pacific Islander Contributions to
our Nation’s History, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/employees/employee-news-stories/aapi-2021 (last visited February 21,
2023).
5
Id.
6
EdWeek, Illinois Becomes First State to Require Teaching Asian American History in Public Schools,
https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/illinois-becomes-first-state-to-require-teaching-asian-american-history-in-public-
schools/2021/07 (last visited February 21 2023).
7
EdWeek, States Are Mandating Asian American Studies. What Should the Curriculum Look Like?,
https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/states-are-mandating-asian-american-studies-what-should-the-curriculum-look-
like/2022/10#:~:text=2022%20has%20been%20a%20banner,first%20state%20to%20require%20it (last visited February 21,
2023).
8
State of New Jersey, Governor Murphy Signs Legislation Ensuring AAPI-Inclusive Curriculum is Taught in New Jersey
Schools, https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562022/20220118c.shtml (last visited February 21, 2023).
9
Rhode Island, Governor McKee Signs Legislation Requiring Asian Amerivan History and Culture be Taught in Rhode
Island Schools, https://governor.ri.gov/press-releases/governor-mckee-signs-legislation-requiring-asian-american-history-
and-culture-be (last visited February 21, 2023).
BILL: SB 294 Page 3
curriculum, students will learn more about the populations’ fight for civil rights and their
contributions to the northeast region and the United States.
Connecticut passed a state-funded mandate to teach AAPI history in public schools that included
an allocation of more than $140,000 toward salary and other costs dedicated to helping local and
regional school boards develop curricula focusing on AAPI history and contributions.10
Florida Required Instruction in Schools
The mission of Florida’s K-20 education system is to allow its students to increase their
proficiency by allowing them the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through
rigorous and relevant learning opportunities.11 Each district school board must provide
appropriate instruction to ensure that students meet State Board of Education (SBE) adopted
standards in the following subject areas: reading and other language arts, mathematics, science,
social studies, foreign languages, health and physical education, and the arts.12
Instructional staff of public schools,13 subject to the rules of the SBE and the district school
board, must provide instruction in: 14
The history and content of the Declaration of Independence.
The history, meaning, significance, and effect of the provisions of the Constitution of the
United States.
The arguments in support of adopting our republican form of government.
Flag education, including proper flag display and flag salute.
The elements of civil government.
The history of the United States.
The history of the Holocaust.
The history of African Americans.
The elementary principles of agriculture.
The effects of alcoholic and intoxicating liquors and beverages and narcotics.
Kindness to animals.
The history of the state.
The conservation of natural resources.
Comprehensive age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate K-12 instruction on health
education and life skills.
The study of Hispanic contributions to the United States.
The study of women’s contributions to the United States.
The nature and importance of free enterprise to the United States economy.
Civic and character education.
The sacrifices that veterans and Medal of Honor recipients have made serving the country.
10
NBC News, How Connecticut became the first state to require — and fund — teaching Asian American history,
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/connecticut-became-first-require-fund-teaching-asian-american-history-
rcna27113 (last visited February 21, 2023).
11
Section 1000.03(4), F.S.
12
Section 1003.42(1), F.S.
13
Instructional staff of charter schools are generally exempt from this section of law. Section 1002.33(16), F.S.
14
Section 1003.42(2), F.S.
BILL: SB 294 Page 4
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill amends s. 1003.42, F.S., to require instructional staff of public schools to provide
instruction on the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), including the
immigration, citizenship, civil rights, identity, and culture of AAPIs.
Additionally, the bill requires instructional materials to include AAPI contributions to American
society.
The bill makes conforming changes to correct cross references in two sections of law.
Requiring instruction on AAPI history could provide students with a better awareness and
understanding of the historical, cultural, and societal impacts made by the AAPI communities.
This bill is effective July 1, 2023.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
BILL: SB 294 Page 5
C. Government Sector Impact:
None. For those school districts that do not already provide instruction on the history of
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, there may be a cost associated with including this
instruction in the required curriculum.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 1003.42, 1006.148,
and 1014.05.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
Statutes affected: S 294 Filed: 1003.42, 1006.148