Florida Senate - 2016                             CS for SB 1462
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Education Pre-K - 12; and Senator Latvala
       
       581-02940-16                                          20161462c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to character-development instruction;
    3         amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring character
    4         education programs to provide certain instruction to
    5         students in grades 9-12; providing an effective date.
    6          
    7  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    8  
    9         Section 1. Paragraph (s) of subsection (2) of section
   10  1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   11         1003.42 Required instruction.—
   12         (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
   13  schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
   14  and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
   15  faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
   16  highest standards for professionalism and historic accuracy,
   17  following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
   18  approved methods of instruction, the following:
   19         (s) A character-development program in the elementary
   20  schools, similar to Character First or Character Counts, which
   21  is secular in nature. Beginning in school year 2004-2005, the
   22  character-development program shall be required in kindergarten
   23  through grade 12. Each district school board shall develop or
   24  adopt a curriculum for the character-development program that
   25  shall be submitted to the department for approval. The
   26  character-development curriculum shall stress the qualities of
   27  patriotism; responsibility; citizenship; kindness; respect for
   28  authority, life, liberty, and personal property; honesty;
   29  charity; self-control; racial, ethnic, and religious tolerance;
   30  and cooperation. The character-development program in grades 9
   31  through 12 shall, at a minimum, include instruction on
   32  developing leadership skills, interpersonal skills, organization
   33  skills, and research skills; creating a resume; developing and
   34  practicing the skills necessary for employment interviews;
   35  managing stress and expectations; and developing skills that
   36  enable students to become more resilient and self-motivated.
   37  
   38  The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
   39  and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
   40         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.