Florida Senate - 2017                                    SB 1058
       
       
        
       By Senator Powell
       
       
       
       
       
       30-01165-17                                           20171058__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to required K-12 instruction; amending
    3         s. 1003.42, F.S.; revising the requirements for
    4         instruction relating to the history of the continent
    5         of Africa to include specified contents relating to
    6         the enslavement of African persons; revising the
    7         requirements for the curriculum of a required
    8         character-development program to include the history
    9         of Africa and contributions of African Americans;
   10         providing an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Paragraphs (h) and (s) of subsection (2) of
   15  section 1003.42, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   16         1003.42 Required instruction.—
   17         (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
   18  schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
   19  and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
   20  faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
   21  highest standards for professionalism and historic accuracy,
   22  following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
   23  approved methods of instruction, the following:
   24         (h) The history of the continent of Africa African
   25  Americans, including the history of African peoples before the
   26  political conflicts that led to the development of slavery
   27  around the world and in the United States. The curriculum must
   28  include, but not be limited to, the passage of enslaved persons
   29  to America, the enslavement experience, abolition, and the many
   30  contributions of African Americans globally and in the United
   31  States to society. Instructional materials shall include the
   32  contributions of African Americans to the American and global
   33  societies society.
   34         (s) A character-development program in the elementary
   35  schools, similar to Character First or Character Counts, which
   36  is secular in nature. Beginning in school year 2004-2005, the
   37  character-development program shall be required in kindergarten
   38  through grade 12. Each district school board shall develop or
   39  adopt a curriculum for the character-development program that
   40  shall be submitted to the department for approval. The
   41  character-development curriculum shall stress the qualities of
   42  patriotism; responsibility; citizenship; kindness; respect for
   43  authority, life, liberty, and personal property; honesty;
   44  charity; self-control; racial, ethnic, and religious tolerance;
   45  and cooperation; and the history of Africa and contributions of
   46  African Americans as specified in paragraph (h). The character
   47  development curriculum for grades 9 through 12 shall, at a
   48  minimum, include instruction on developing leadership skills,
   49  interpersonal skills, organization skills, and research skills;
   50  creating a resume; developing and practicing the skills
   51  necessary for employment interviews; conflict resolution,
   52  workplace ethics, and workplace law; managing stress and
   53  expectations; and developing skills that enable students to
   54  become more resilient and self-motivated.
   55  
   56  The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
   57  and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
   58         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.