Florida Senate - 2022                                    SB 1516
       
       
        
       By Senator Jones
       
       
       
       
       
       35-01534-22                                           20221516__
    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         providing that instructional staff of public schools
    5         are encouraged to include the history of local
    6         African-American cemeteries in the study of the
    7         history of African Americans when practicable;
    8         providing an 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 history
   23  of African peoples before the political conflicts that led to
   24  the development of slavery, the passage to America, the
   25  enslavement experience, abolition, and the contributions of
   26  African Americans to society. Instructional materials shall
   27  include the contributions of African Americans to American
   28  society. Members of the instructional staff are encouraged to
   29  include the history of local African-American cemeteries in the
   30  study of the history of African Americans when practicable.
   31  
   32  The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
   33  and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection. A
   34  character development program that incorporates the values of
   35  the recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
   36  offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
   37  other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
   38  initiative meets the requirements of paragraphs (s) and (t).
   39         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.