F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
HB 1521 2024
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to required instruction in the history
3 of African Americans; amending s. 1003.42, F.S.;
4 prohibiting the specified instruction and the state
5 academic standards from indicating or implying that an
6 enslaved person benefited from slavery or the
7 enslavement experience in any way; providing an
8 effective date.
9
10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12 Section 1. Paragraph (h) of subsection (2) of section
13 1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
14 1003.42 Required instruction.—
15 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
16 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
17 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
18 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
19 highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
20 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
21 approved methods of instruction, the following:
22 (h) The history of African Americans, including the
23 history of African peoples before the political conflicts that
24 led to the development of slavery, the passage to America, the
25 enslavement experience, abolition, and the history and
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HB 1521 2024
26 contributions of Americans of the African diaspora to society.
27 Students shall develop an understanding of the ramifications of
28 prejudice, racism, and stereotyping on individual freedoms, and
29 examine what it means to be a responsible and respectful person,
30 for the purpose of encouraging tolerance of diversity in a
31 pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting democratic
32 values and institutions. Instruction shall include the roles and
33 contributions of individuals from all walks of life and their
34 endeavors to learn and thrive throughout history as artists,
35 scientists, educators, businesspeople, influential thinkers,
36 members of the faith community, and political and governmental
37 leaders and the courageous steps they took to fulfill the
38 promise of democracy and unite the nation. Instructional
39 materials shall include the vital contributions of African
40 Americans to build and strengthen American society and celebrate
41 the inspirational stories of African Americans who prospered,
42 even in the most difficult circumstances. Instructional
43 personnel may facilitate discussions and use curricula to
44 address, in an age-appropriate manner, how the individual
45 freedoms of persons have been infringed by slavery, racial
46 oppression, racial segregation, and racial discrimination, as
47 well as topics relating to the enactment and enforcement of laws
48 resulting in racial oppression, racial segregation, and racial
49 discrimination and how recognition of these freedoms has
50 overturned these unjust laws. However, classroom instruction and
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51 curriculum may not be used to indoctrinate or persuade students
52 to a particular point of view inconsistent with the principles
53 enumerated in subsection (3) or the state academic standards.
54 The instruction required under this paragraph and the state
55 academic standards may not indicate or imply that an enslaved
56 person benefited from slavery or the enslavement experience in
57 any way. Each school district must annually certify and provide
58 evidence to the department, in a manner prescribed by the
59 department, that the requirements of this paragraph are met. The
60 department shall prepare and offer standards and curriculum for
61 the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek input
62 from the Commissioner of Education's African American History
63 Task Force or from any state or nationally recognized African-
64 American educational organizations. The department may contract
65 with any state or nationally recognized African-American
66 educational organizations to develop training for instructional
67 personnel and grade-appropriate classroom resources to support
68 the developed curriculum.
69
70 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
71 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
72 Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
73 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
74 offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
75 other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
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76 initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u).
77 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
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Statutes affected:
H 1521 Filed: 1003.42