Senate Bill sb1846

    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1846

    By Senator Wilson





    33-1145-05                                          See HB 425

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to required instruction in the

  3         public schools; amending s. 1003.42, F.S.;

  4         revising provisions relating to the development

  5         and adoption of character-development curricula

  6         by district school boards; revising components

  7         of the curricula; providing an effective date.

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  9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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11         Section 1.  Paragraph (q) of subsection (2) of section

12  1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

13         1003.42  Required instruction.--

14         (2)  Members of the instructional staff of the public

15  schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education

16  and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and

17  faithfully, using the books and materials required, following

18  the prescribed courses of study, and employing approved

19  methods of instruction, the following:

20         (q)  A character-development program in the elementary

21  schools, similar to Character First or Character Counts, which

22  is secular in nature and stresses such character qualities as

23  attentiveness, patience, and initiative. Beginning in school

24  year 2004-2005, the character-development program shall be

25  required in kindergarten through grade 12. Each district

26  school board shall develop or adopt a curriculum for the

27  character-development program that shall be submitted to the

28  department for approval. A curriculum developed or adopted by

29  a district school board and approved by the department may be

30  shared with other district school boards for purpose of

31  compliance with this paragraph. Additionally, the department

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2005                                  SB 1846
    33-1145-05                                          See HB 425




 1  may develop a model character-development curriculum to enable

 2  district school boards to meet the requirements of this

 3  paragraph. The character-development curriculum shall define

 4  character to include its cognitive, emotional, and behavioral

 5  dimensions; stress the qualities of patriotism,

 6  responsibility, citizenship, kindness, respect, honesty,

 7  self-control, tolerance, and cooperation; provide for an

 8  orderly learning environment to enable students to make

 9  positive lifestyle choices and avoid unhealthy behavior;

10  create a positive moral culture in the classroom and the

11  school; and develop moral character and civic virtue in

12  students as one means of creating a responsible and

13  compassionate society.

14         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.