HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 5 Civic Education Curriculum
SPONSOR(S): Zika and others
TIED BILLS: None IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 1450
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Secondary Education & Career Development 18 Y, 0 N Bauman Sanchez
Subcommittee
2) PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee 15 Y, 0 N Bailey Potvin
3) Education & Employment Committee 21 Y, 0 N Bauman Hassell
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
The bill revises the social studies credit requirement for high school graduation. The bill requires that the
United States Government course include a comparative discussion of political ideologies that conflict with the
principles of freedom and democracy in the nation’s founding principles.
To help students understand their roles, rights, and responsibilities as residents of the state, the bill requires
the Florida Department of Education (DOE) to develop or approve an integrated civic education curriculum for
public school students in kindergarten through grade 12. The bill provides requirements for the civic education
curriculum to aid in students’ development of civic responsibility and knowledge. As part of the curriculum
requirements, the State Board of Education is required to develop civic-minded expectations for an upright
citizenry.
The bill also requires the DOE to curate oral history resources for use alongside the civic education curriculum.
The Department of Education indicates that any fiscal impact of the bill can be absorbed within existing
resources.
The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2021.
This document does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
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FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Civics Education in Florida
Present Situation
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.”1 Civic literacy and preparing students to become civically engaged and
knowledgeable adults who positively contribute to their communities is a priority of the Florida
education system.2
Secondary Education
Florida law requires each district school board to provide instruction on the history, significance, and
principles of the Declaration of the Independence and the Constitution of the United States, flag
education, and civil government.3 District school boards must also provide instruction on the
contributions of African Americans, Hispanics, and women to the United States.4
The law requires districts to provide a character-development program in kindergarten through grade
12.5 Each school district must develop or adopt a curriculum for its K-12 character-development
program and submit it to the Florida Department of Education (DOE) for approval.6 The character
development curriculum must “stress the qualities of patriotism; responsibility; citizenship; kindness;
respect for authority, life, liberty, and personal property; honesty; charity; self-control; racial, ethnic, and
religious tolerance; and cooperation.”7
To encourage patriotism, district school boards are required to provide instruction on the sacrifices
made by veterans and Medal of Honor recipients while serving the country and protecting democratic
values worldwide.8 A district school board may also adopt rules requiring patriotic programs in schools
that encourage respect for the government of the United States and its national anthem and flag.9
Teachers or administrators in the schools may read or post historic material such as the Constitution of
the United States, the Bill of Rights, and other foundational materials.10 Public schools are encouraged
to coordinate instruction relating to the nation’s founding fathers with “American Founders’ Month”
(September).11
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards
1
Section 1000.03(4), F.S.
2
Section 1000.03(5)(c), F.S.
3
Section 1003.42(2)(a)-(e), F.S.
4
Ss. 1003.42(2)(h) and (p)-(q), F.S.
5
Section 1003.42(2)(s), F.S.
6
Id.
7
Id.
8
Section 1003.42(t), F.S.
9
Section 1003.44(1), F.S.
10
Section 1003.44(2), F.S.
11
Section 1003.44(3), F.S. and s. 683.1455, F.S.
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Currently, Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for social studies include civics content
in kindergarten through grade 12.12 For middle grades, a student must successfully complete three
middle school or higher courses in social studies in order to be promoted to high school.13 One of the
three courses must be a civics education course that includes the roles and responsibilities of federal,
state, and local governments; the structures and functions of the legislative, executive, and judicial
branches; and the meaning and significance of documents such as the Articles of Confederation,
Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States.14
At the high school level, 24 credits are required for a standard high school diploma.15 Three credits
must be in social studies, including one credit each in United States History and World History; one-half
credit in economics; and one-half credit in United States Government.16 Course standards for United
States Government include evaluating and defending positions on the founding ideals and principles of
American government, explaining how nations are governed differently, and comparing indicators of
democratization in other countries, among others.17
Students in the middle grades civics course and the high school United States History course must take
an end-of-course assessment18 that constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade.19
Review of Civics Education
To further address civics education in Florida, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 19-32 in
January 2019, directing the Commissioner of Education (commissioner) to review Florida’s K-12
academic standards and identify opportunities to prepare high school graduates to be knowledgeable
citizens, particularly in the principles of the United States Constitution.20
Additionally, in 2019, the Legislature required the commissioner, in consultation with specified
organizations and stakeholders, to review the state-approved middle grades civics education course
instructional materials and the test specifications for the statewide, standardized civics end-of-course
assessment.21 The commissioner provided recommendations for improvements to the materials and
test specifications to the Governor and Legislature on December 31, 2019.22
The DOE began a review of the statewide civics education course standards on January 1, 2020.23 The
State Board of Education (SBE) is expected to adopt the revisions to standards by summer 2021 and
the approval of new course descriptions, with revised standards, is expected by fall 2021.24
Effect of Proposed Changes
The bill revises the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards social studies credit requirement for
high school graduation. The bill requires instruction in United States Government to include a
12
See CPALMS, Browse and Search Standards, http://www.cpalms.org/Public/search/Standard (last visited Feb. 24, 2021) (providing
the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for each subject area, by grade level).
13
Section 1003.4156(1)(c), F.S.
14
Id.
15
Section 1003.4282(1)(a), F.S.
16
Section 1003.4282(3)(d), F.S.
17
See CPALMS, United States Government Course Standards, https://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewCourse/Preview/633 (last
visited Feb. 24, 2021).
18
Section 1008.22(3)(b), F.S.
19
Section 1003.4156(1)(c), F.S. and s. 1003.4282(3)(d), F.S.
20
Fla. Exec. Order No. 19-32 (Jan. 31, 2019).
21
Section 1003.4156(1)(c), F.S. See also Florida Department of Education, Civics Review, http://www.fldoe.org/civicsreview/ (last
visited Feb. 24, 2021).
22
Memorandum re Committee Substitute for (CS/HB) 807- Civics Education Report (Dec. 31, 2019).
23
Id. See also Florida Department of Education, Civics Review, http://www.fldoe.org/civicsreview/ (last visited Feb. 24, 2021).
24
Florida Department of Education, Civics Review, http://www.fldoe.org/civicsreview/ (last visited Feb. 24, 2021).
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comparative discussion of political ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism, that conflict with
the principles of freedom and democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States.
To assist in students’ preparation to be civically responsible and knowledgeable adults, the bill requires
the DOE to develop or approve an integrated civic education curriculum for students in kindergarten
through grade 12. School districts and charter schools must incorporate the curriculum as part of
students’ regular school work. The curriculum must assist students in developing:
An understanding of their rights and responsibilities as residents of Florida and of the United
States’ founding principles as described in ss. 1003.42(a)-(c), F.S.25
A sense of civic pride and desire to participate regularly in government.
An understanding of the process for effectively advocating before government bodies and
officials.
An understanding of the civic-minded expectations, developed by the SBE, of an upright and
desirable citizenry that recognizes and accepts responsibility for preserving and defending the
liberty inherited from prior generations and secured by the United States Constitution.
The bill also requires the DOE to curate oral history resources for use with the civic education
curriculum. Designated as the “Portraits in Patriotism Act,” the bill provides that these resources will be
based on diverse individuals’ personal stories embodying civic-minded qualities. The stories may
include first-person accounts of victims of other nations’ governing ideologies and comparisons to the
United States’ governing ideologies.
The bill requires the DOE to approve integrated civic education curricula submitted by school districts
and charter schools that meet the outlined requirements.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1. Amends s. 1003.4282, F.S., revising the social studies high school graduation credit
requirement.
Section 2. Amends s. 1003.44, F.S., requiring the DOE to develop or approve an integrated civic
education curriculum that meets certain requirements; requiring the department to curate
oral history resources to be used along with such curriculum; providing a short title;
requiring the department to approve the civic education curricula submitted by school
districts and charter schools.
Section 3. Provides an effective date of July 1, 2021.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
The DOE indicates that any costs associated with developing the civic education curriculum and the
curation of oral history resources required by the bill can be absorbed within existing resources.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
25
Sections 1003.42(a)-(c), F.S. require district school boards to provide instruction on the history and content of the Declaration of
Independence, the meaning and significance of the United States Constitution and its amendments, and the arguments supporting a
republican form of government as advocated in the Federalist Papers.
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1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
None. The bill does not appear to affect county or municipal governments.
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
None.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/ COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
None.
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Statutes affected: H 5 Filed: 1003.4282
H 5 er: 1003.4282