Education

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A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to education; providing a short title; 2
amending s. 1000.05, F.S.; removing provisions 3
relating to prohibited training or instruction in 4
specified concepts which constitutes discrimination on 5
the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex; 6
repealing s. 1000.071, F.S., relating to personal 7
titles and pronouns; amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; 8
prohibiting school districts from adopting a procedure 9
that compels or authorizes school personnel to share 10
certain information with a parent under certain 11
circumstances; removing a provision authorizing school 12
districts to adopt procedures that permit school 13
personnel to withhold certain information from a 14
parent under certain circumstances; removing a 15
prohibition against classroom instruction on sexual 16
orientation and gender identity in specified grades; 17
removing an exception; removing a provision requiring 18
student support services to adhere to specified 19
guidelines; amending s. 1001.706, F.S.; removing a 20
requirement for the Board of Governors to include in 21
its review of state university missions a directive to 22
each university regarding its programs for curricula 23
that violate certain provisions; amending s. 1001.92, 24
F.S.; removing provisions relating to a state 25

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university losing its eligibility for performance 26
funding if a certain violation is substantiated; 27
amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring instruction in 28
LGBTQ history in public schools; amending s. 1004.04, 29
F.S.; removing provisions relating to teacher 30
preparation program requirements; amending s. 1004.06, 31
F.S.; authorizing and encouraging Florida College 32
System institutions, state universities, and direct-33
support organizations to develop programs and campus 34
activities based on diversity, equity, and inclusion 35
principles; authorizing the expenditure of state and 36
federal funds to promote such programs and activities; 37
removing a prohibition against such institutions, 38
universities, and organizations expending funds on 39
programs and campus activities that advocate for 40
diversity, equity, and inclusion or that promote or 41
engage in political or social activism; amending s. 42
1004.85, F.S.; removing a requirement that certain 43
instruction be included in postsecondary educator 44
preparation institutes; amending s. 1006.28, F.S.; 45
providing that certain provisions relating to district 46
school board duties and materials made available in 47
schools do not apply to classroom libraries; revising 48
requirements for resolving objections to instructional 49
materials; removing a requirement that any 50

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instructional material that is subject to an objection 51
be removed within 5 school days; removing a 52
requirement that a school board discontinue the use of 53
an instructional material if certain conditions are 54
met; providing that school libraries may provide 55
materials and information presenting all points of 56
view; providing that materials may not be proscribed 57
or removed due to partisan or doctrinal disapproval; 58
amending s. 1007.25, F.S.; removing certain 59
prohibitions for general education courses; amending 60
ss. 1012.551, 1012.56, and 1012.562, F.S.; removing 61
requirements for uniform core curricula for specified 62
teacher preparation programs, professional learning 63
certificate program courses, and school leader 64
preparation programs; providing an effective date. 65
66
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 67
68
Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Freedom to Learn 69
Act." 70
Section 2. Subsection (4) of section 1000.05, Florida 71
Statutes, is amended to read: 72
1000.05 Discrimination against students and employees in 73
the Florida K-20 public education system prohibited; equality of 74
access required.— 75

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(4)(a) It shall constitute discrimination on the basis of 76
race, color, national origin, or sex under this section to 77
subject any student or employee to training or instruction that 78
espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels such 79
student or employee to believe any of the following concepts: 80
1. Members of one race, color, national origin, or sex are 81
morally superior to members of another race, color, national 82
origin, or sex. 83
2. A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national 84
origin, or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, 85
whether consciously or unconsciously. 86
3. A person's moral character or status as either 87
privileged or oppressed is necessarily determined by his or her 88
race, color, national origin, or sex. 89
4. Members of one race, color, national origin, or sex 90
cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to 91
race, color, national origin, or sex. 92
5. A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national 93
origin, or sex, bears responsibility for, or should be 94
discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of, 95
actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, 96
color, national origin, or sex. 97
6. A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, national 98
origin, or sex, should be discriminated against or receive 99
adverse treatment to achieve diversity, equity, or inclusion. 100

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7. A person, by virtue of his or her race, color, sex, or 101
national origin, bears personal responsibility for and must feel 102
guilt, anguish, or other forms of psychological distress because 103
of actions, in which the person played no part, committed in the 104
past by other members of the same race, color, national origin, 105
or sex. 106
8. Such virtues as merit, excellence, hard work, fairness, 107
neutrality, objectivity, and racial colorblindness are racist or 108
sexist, or were created by members of a particular race, color, 109
national origin, or sex to oppress members of another race, 110
color, national origin, or sex. 111
(b) Paragraph (a) may not be construed to prohibit 112
discussion of the concepts listed therein as part of a larger 113
course of training or instruction, provided such training or 114
instruction is given in an objective manner without endorsement 115
of the concepts. 116
Section 3. Section 1000.071, Florida Statutes, is 117
repealed. 118
Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section 119
1001.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 120
1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The 121
district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all 122
powers and perform all duties listed below: 123
(8) STUDENT WELFARE.— 124
(c)1. In accordance with the rights of parents enumerated 125

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in ss. 1002.20 and 1014.04, adopt procedures for notifying a 126
student's parent if there is a change in the student's services 127
or monitoring related to the student's mental, emotional, or 128
physical health or well-being and the school's ability to 129
provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the 130
student. The procedures must reinforce the fundamental right of 131
parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control 132
of their children by requiring school district personnel to 133
encourage a student to discuss issues relating to his or her 134
well-being with his or her parent or to facilitate discussion of 135
the issue with the parent. The procedures may not prohibit 136
parents from accessing any of their student's education and 137
health records created, maintained, or used by the school 138
district, as required by s. 1002.22(2). 139
2. A school district may not adopt procedures or student 140
support forms that prohibit school district personnel from 141
notifying a parent about his or her student's mental, emotional, 142
or physical health or well-being, or a change in related 143
services or monitoring, or that encourage or have the effect of 144
encouraging a student to withhold from a parent such 145
information. School district personnel may not discourage or 146
prohibit parental notification of and involvement in critical 147
decisions affecting a student's mental, emotional, or physical 148
health or well-being. A school district may not adopt a 149
procedure that compels or authorizes school personnel to provide 150

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such information to a parent if a reasonably prudent person 151
would believe that disclosure would result in harm to the 152
student, including, but not limited to, This subparagraph does 153
not prohibit a school district from adopting procedures that 154
permit school personnel to withhold such information from a 155
parent if a reasonably prudent person would believe that 156
disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect, as 157
those terms are defined in s. 39.01. 158
3. Classroom instruction by school personnel or third 159
parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur 160
in prekindergarten through grade 8, except when required by ss. 161
1003.42(2)(o)3. and 1003.46. If such instruction is provided in 162
grades 9 through 12, the instruction must be age-appropriate or 163
developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with 164
state standards. This subparagraph applies to charter schools. 165
4. Student support services training developed or provided 166
by a school district to school district personnel must adhere to 167
student services guidelines, standards, and frameworks 168
established by the Department of Education. 169
5. At the beginning of the school year, each school 170
district shall notify parents of each health care service 171
offered at their student's school and the option to withhold 172
consent or decline any specific service in accordance with s. 173
1014.06. Parental consent to a health care service does not 174
waive the parent's right to access his or her student's 175

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educational or health records or to be notified about a change 176
in his or her student's services or monitoring as provided by 177
this paragraph. 178
4.6. Before administering a student well-being 179
questionnaire or health screening form to a student in 180
kindergarten through grade 3, the school district must provide 181
the questionnaire or health screening form to the parent and 182
obtain the permission of the parent. 183
5.7. Each school district shall adopt procedures for a 184
parent to notify the principal, or his or her designee, 185
regarding concerns under this paragraph at his or her student's 186
school and the process for resolving those concerns within 7 187
calendar days after notification by the parent. 188
a. At a minimum, the procedures must require that within 189
30 days after notification by the parent that the concern 190
remains unresolved, the school district must either resolve the 191
concern or provide a statement of the reasons for not resolving 192
the concern. 193
b. If a concern is not resolved by the school district, a 194
parent may: 195
(I) Request the Commissioner of Education to appoint a 196
special magistrate who is a member of The Florida Bar in good 197
standing and who has at least 5 years' experience in 198
administrative law. The special magistrate shall determine facts 199
relating to the dispute over the school district procedure or 200

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practice, consider information provided by the school district, 201
and render a recommended decision for resolution to the State 202
Board of Education within 30 days after receipt of the request 203
by the parent. The State Board of Education must approve or 204
reject the recommended decision at its next regularly scheduled 205
meeting that is more than 7 calendar days and no more than 30 206
days after the date the recommended decision is transmitted. The 207
costs of the special magistrate shall be borne by the school 208
district. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules, 209
including forms, necessary to implement this subparagraph. 210
(II) Bring an action against the school district to obtain 211
a declaratory judgment that the school district procedure or 212
practice violates this paragraph and seek injunctive relief. A 213
court may award damages and shall award reasonable attorney fees 214
and court costs to a parent who receives declaratory or 215
injunctive relief. 216
c. Each school district shall adopt and post on its 217
website policies to notify parents of the procedures required 218
under this subparagraph. 219
d. Nothing contained in this subparagraph shall be 220
construed to abridge or alter rights of action or remedies in 221
equity already existing under the common law or general law. 222
Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 223
1001.706, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 224
1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.— 225

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(5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY.— 226
(a) The Legislature intends that the Board of Governors 227
shall align the missions of each constituent university with the 228
academic success of its students; the existing and emerging 229
economic development needs of the state; the national reputation 230
of its faculty and its academic and research programs; the 231
quantity of externally generated research, patents, and 232
licenses; and the strategic and accountability plans required in 233
paragraphs (b) and (c). The Board of Governors shall 234
periodically review the mission of each constituent university 235
and make updates or revisions as needed. Upon completion of a 236
review of the mission, the board shall review existing academic 237
programs for alignment with the mission. The board shall include 238
in its review a directive to each constituent university 239
regarding its programs for any curriculum that violates s. 240
1000.05 or that is based on theories that systemic racism, 241
sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the 242
institutions of the United States and were created to maintain 243
social, political, and economic inequities. The mission 244
alignment and strategic plan must consider peer institutions at 245
the constituent universities. The mission alignment and 246
strategic plan must acknowledge that universities that have a 247
national and international impact have the greatest capacity to 248
promote the state's economic development through: new 249
discoveries, patents, licenses, and technologies that generate 250

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state businesses of global importance; research achievements 251
through external grants and contracts that are comparable to 252
nationally recognized and ranked universities; the creation of a 253
resource rich academic environment that attracts high-technology 254
business and venture capital to the state; and this generation's 255
finest minds focusing on solving the state's economic, social, 256
environmental, and legal problems in the areas of life sciences, 257
water, sustainability, energy, and health care. A nationally 258
recognized and ranked university that has a global perspective 259
and impact must be afforded the opportunity to enable and 260
protect the university's competitiveness on the global stage in 261
fair competition with other institutions of other states in the 262
highest Carnegie Classification. 263
Section 6. Subsection (5) of section 1001.92, Florida 264
Statutes, is amended to read: 265
1001.92 State University System Performance-Based 266
Incentive.— 267
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, 268
if any institution is found to have a substantiated violation of 269
s. 1000.05(4)(a), the institution shall be ineligible to receive 270
performance funding during the next fiscal year following the 271
year in which the violation is substantiated. Substantiated 272
findings are those as determined by a court of law, a standing 273
committee of the Legislature, or the Board of Governors. 274
Section 7. Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section 275

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1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (w) is 276
added to that subsection, to read: 277
1003.42 Required instruction.— 278
(2) Members of the instructional staff of the public 279
schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education 280
and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and 281
faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the 282
highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy, 283
following the prescribed courses of study, and employing 284
approved methods of instruction, the following: 285
(g)1. The history of the Holocaust (1933-1945), the 286
systematic, planned annihilation of European Jews and other 287
groups by Nazi Germany, a watershed event in the history of 288
humanity, to be taught in a manner that leads to an 289
investigation of human behavior, an understanding of the 290
ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, and an 291
examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful 292
person, for the purposes of encouraging tolerance of diversity 293
in a pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting 294
democratic values and institutions, including the policy, 295
definition, and historical and current examples of antisemitism, 296
as described in s. 1000.05(7) s. 1000.05(8), and the prevention 297
of antisemitism. Each school district must annually certify and 298
provide evidence to the department, in a manner prescribed by 299
the department, that the requirements of this paragraph are met. 300

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The department shall prepare and offer standards and curriculum 301
for the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek 302
input from the Commissioner of Education's Task Force on 303
Holocaust Education or from any state or nationally recognized 304
Holocaust educational organizations. The department may contract 305
with any state or nationally recognized Holocaust educational 306
organizations to develop training for instructional personnel 307
and grade-appropriate classroom resources to support the 308
developed curriculum. 309
2. The second week in November shall be designated as 310
"Holocaust Education Week" in this state in recognition that 311
November is the anniversary of Kristallnacht, widely recognized 312
as a precipitating event that led to the Holocaust. 313
(w) The study of LGBTQ history in Florida and the LGBTQ 314
community's contributions to the United States, which may 315
include important United States Supreme Court cases such as 316
Obergefell v. Hodges and United States v. Windsor; the Florida 317
Legislative Investigation Committee; and the tragedy at Pulse 318
Nightclub. 319
320
The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards 321
and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection. 322
Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the 323
recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is 324
offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or 325

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other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness 326
initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u). 327
Section 8. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section 328
1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 329
1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for 330
teacher preparation programs.— 331
(2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.— 332
(e) Teacher preparation program courses: 333
1. May not distort significant historical events or 334
include a curriculum or instruction that teaches identity 335
politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that 336
systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent 337
in the institutions of the United States and were created to 338
maintain social, political, and economic inequities. 339
2. Must afford candidates the opportunity to think 340
critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn 341
instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence. 342
Section 9. Subsection (4) of section 1004.06, Florida 343
Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (3), and subsections (2) 344
and (3) of that section are amended to read: 345
1004.06 Prohibited expenditures.— 346
(2) A Florida College System institution, state 347
university, Florida College System institution direct-support 348
organization, or state university direct-support organization 349
may, and is encouraged to, develop programs and campus 350

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activities anchored in the principles of diversity, equity, and 351
inclusion. Programs and campus activities may not expend any 352
state or federal funds to promote, support, or maintain any such 353
programs or campus activities that: 354
(a) Violate s. 1000.05; or 355
(b) Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, or 356
promote or engage in political or social activism, as defined by 357
rules of the State Board of Education and regulations of the 358
Board of Governors. 359
360
Student fees to support student-led organizations are permitted 361
notwithstanding any speech or expressive activity by such 362
organizations which would otherwise violate this subsection, 363
provided that the public funds must be allocated to student-led 364
organizations pursuant to written policies or regulations of 365
each Florida College System institution or state university, as 366
applicable. Use of institution facilities by student-led 367
organizations is permitted notwithstanding any speech or 368
expressive activity by such organizations which would otherwise 369
violate this subsection, provided that such use must be granted 370
to student-led organizations pursuant to written policies or 371
regulations of each Florida College System institution or state 372
university, as applicable. 373
(3) Subsection (2) does not prohibit programs, campus 374
activities, or functions required for compliance with general or 375

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federal laws or regulations; for obtaining or retaining 376
institutional or discipline-specific accreditation with the 377
approval of either the State Board of Education or the Board of 378
Governors; or for access programs for military veterans, Pell 379
Grant recipients, first generation college students, 380
nontraditional students, "2+2" transfer students from the 381
Florida College System, students from low-income families, or 382
students with unique abilities. 383
Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 384
1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 385
1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.— 386
(2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or 387
approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek 388
approval from the Department of Education to create educator 389
preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all 390
of the following: 391
1. Professional learning instruction to assist teachers in 392
improving classroom instruction and in meeting certification or 393
recertification requirements. 394
2. Instruction to assist potential and existing substitute 395
teachers in performing their duties. 396
3. Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting 397
education and training requirements. 398
4. Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to become 399
certified teachers as provided in this section in order to 400

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increase routes to the classroom for professionals who hold a 401
baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were not 402
education majors. 403
5. Instruction and professional learning for part-time and 404
full-time nondegreed teachers of career programs under s. 405
1012.39(1)(c). 406
6. Instruction that does not distort significant 407
historical events or include a curriculum or instruction that 408
teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on 409
theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege 410
are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were 411
created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities. 412
Courses and instruction within the educator preparation 413
institute must afford candidates the opportunity to think 414
critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn 415
instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence. 416
Section 11. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (2) of 417
section 1006.28, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 418
1006.28 Duties of district school board, district school 419
superintendent; and school principal regarding K-12 420
instructional materials.— 421
(2) DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.—The district school board has 422
the constitutional duty and responsibility to select and provide 423
adequate instructional materials for all students in accordance 424
with the requirements of this part. The district school board 425

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also has the following specific duties and responsibilities: 426
(a) Courses of study; adoption.—Adopt courses of study, 427
including instructional materials, for use in the schools of the 428
district. 429
1. Each district school board is responsible for the 430
content of all instructional materials and any other materials 431
used in a classroom, made available in a school or classroom 432
library, or included on a reading list, whether adopted and 433
purchased from the state-adopted instructional materials list, 434
adopted and purchased through a district instructional materials 435
program under s. 1006.283, or otherwise purchased or made 436
available. 437
2. Each district school board must adopt a policy 438
regarding an objection by a parent or a resident of the county 439
to the use of a specific material, which clearly describes a 440
process to handle all objections and provides for resolution. 441
The objection form, as prescribed by State Board of Education 442
rule, and the district school board's process must be easy to 443
read and understand and be easily accessible on the homepage of 444
the school district's website. The objection form must also 445
identify the school district point of contact and contact 446
information for the submission of an objection. The process must 447
provide the parent or resident the opportunity to proffer 448
evidence to the district school board that: 449
a. An instructional material does not meet the criteria of 450

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s. 1006.31(2) or s. 1006.40(3)(c) if it was selected for use in 451
a course or otherwise made available to students in the school 452
district but was not subject to the public notice, review, 453
comment, and hearing procedures under s. 1006.283(2)(b)8., 9., 454
and 11. 455
b. Any material used in a classroom, made available in a 456
school or classroom library, or included on a reading list 457
contains content which: 458
(I) Is pornographic or prohibited under s. 847.012; 459
(II) Depicts or describes sexual conduct as defined in s. 460
847.001(19), unless such material is for a course required by s. 461
1003.46 or s. 1003.42(2)(o)1.g. or 3., or identified by State 462
Board of Education rule; 463
(III) Is not suited to student needs and their ability to 464
comprehend the material presented; or 465
(III)(IV) Is inappropriate for the grade level and age 466
group for which the material is used. 467
468
A resident of the county who is not the parent or guardian of a 469
student with access to school district materials may not object 470
to more than one material per month. The State Board of 471
Education may adopt rules to implement this provision. Any 472
material that is subject to an objection on the basis of sub-473
sub-subparagraph b.(I) or sub-sub-subparagraph b.(II) must be 474
removed within 5 school days after receipt of the objection and 475

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remain unavailable to students of that school until the 476
objection is resolved. Parents shall have the right to read 477
passages from any material that is subject to an objection. If 478
the school board denies a parent the right to read passages due 479
to content that meets the requirements under sub-sub-480
subparagraph b.(I), the school district shall discontinue the 481
use of the material in the school district. If the district 482
school board finds that any material meets the requirements 483
under sub-subparagraph a. or that any other material contains 484
prohibited content under sub-sub-subparagraph b.(I), the school 485
district shall discontinue use of the material. If the district 486
school board finds that any other material contains prohibited 487
content under sub-sub-subparagraphs b.(II)-(IV), the school 488
district shall discontinue use of the material for any grade 489
level or age group for which such use is inappropriate or 490
unsuitable. 491
3. Each district school board must establish a process by 492
which the parent of a public school student or a resident of the 493
county may contest the district school board's adoption of a 494
specific instructional material. The parent or resident must 495
file a petition, on a form provided by the school board, within 496
30 calendar days after the adoption of the instructional 497
material by the school board. The school board must make the 498
form available to the public and publish the form on the school 499
district's website. The form must be signed by the parent or 500

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resident, include the required contact information, and state 501
the objection to the instructional material based on the 502
criteria of s. 1006.31(2) or s. 1006.40(3)(c). Within 30 days 503
after the 30-day period has expired, the school board must, for 504
all petitions timely received, conduct at least one open public 505
hearing before an unbiased and qualified hearing officer. The 506
hearing officer may not be an employee or agent of the school 507
district. The hearing is not subject to the provisions of 508
chapter 120; however, the hearing must provide sufficient 509
procedural protections to allow each petitioner an adequate and 510
fair opportunity to be heard and present evidence to the hearing 511
officer. The school board's decision after convening a hearing 512
is final and not subject to further petition or review. 513
4. Meetings of committees convened for the purpose of 514
ranking, eliminating, or selecting instructional materials for 515
recommendation to the district school board must be noticed and 516
open to the public in accordance with s. 286.011. Any committees 517
convened for such purposes must include parents of students who 518
will have access to such materials. 519
5. Meetings of committees convened for the purpose of 520
resolving an objection by a parent or resident to specific 521
materials must be noticed and open to the public in accordance 522
with s. 286.011. Any committees convened for such purposes must 523
include parents of students who will have access to such 524
materials. 525

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6. If a parent disagrees with the determination made by 526
the district school board on the objection to the use of a 527
specific material, a parent may request the Commissioner of 528
Education to appoint a special magistrate who is a member of The 529
Florida Bar in good standing and who has at least 5 years' 530
experience in administrative law. The special magistrate shall 531
determine facts relating to the school district's determination, 532
consider information provided by the parent and the school 533
district, and render a recommended decision for resolution to 534
the State Board of Education within 30 days after receipt of the 535
request by the parent. The State Board of Education must approve 536
or reject the recommended decision at its next regularly 537
scheduled meeting that is more than 7 calendar days and no more 538
than 30 days after the date the recommended decision is 539
transmitted. The costs of the special magistrate shall be borne 540
by the school district. The State Board of Education shall adopt 541
rules, including forms, necessary to implement this 542
subparagraph. 543
(d) School library media services; establishment and 544
maintenance.—Establish and maintain a program of school library 545
media services for all public schools in the district, including 546
school library media centers, or school library media centers 547
open to the public, and, in addition such traveling or 548
circulating libraries as may be needed for the proper operation 549
of the district school system. School librarians, media 550

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specialists, and other personnel involved in the selection of 551
school district library materials must complete the training 552
program developed pursuant to s. 1006.29(6) before reviewing and 553
selecting age-appropriate materials and library resources. Upon 554
written request, a school district shall provide access to any 555
material or book specified in the request that is maintained in 556
a district school system library and is available for review. 557
1. Each book made available to students through a school 558
district library media center or included in a recommended or 559
assigned school or grade-level reading list must be selected by 560
a school district employee who holds a valid educational media 561
specialist certificate, regardless of whether the book is 562
purchased, donated, or otherwise made available to students. 563
2. Each district school board shall adopt procedures for 564
developing library media center collections and post the 565
procedures on the website for each school within the district. 566
School libraries may provide materials and information 567
presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. 568
Materials may not be proscribed or removed because of partisan 569
or doctrinal disapproval. The procedures must: 570
a. Require that book selections meet the criteria in s. 571
1006.40(3)(c). 572
b. Require consultation of reputable, professionally 573
recognized reviewing periodicals and school community 574
stakeholders. 575

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c. Provide for library media center collections, including 576
classroom libraries, based on reader interest, support of state 577
academic standards and aligned curriculum, and the academic 578
needs of students and faculty. 579
d. Provide for the regular removal or discontinuance of 580
books based on, at a minimum, physical condition, rate of recent 581
circulation, alignment to state academic standards and relevancy 582
to curriculum, out-of-date content, and required removal 583
pursuant to subparagraph (a)2. 584
3. Each elementary school must publish on its website, in 585
a searchable format prescribed by the department, a list of all 586
materials maintained and accessible in the school library media 587
center or a classroom library or required as part of a school or 588
grade-level reading list. 589
4. Each district school board shall adopt and publish on 590
its website the process for a parent to limit his or her 591
student's access to materials in the school or classroom 592
library. 593
Section 12. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section 594
1007.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 595
1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites; 596
other degree requirements.— 597
(3) The chair of the State Board of Education and the 598
chair of the Board of Governors, or their designees, shall 599
jointly appoint faculty committees to review and recommend to 600

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the Articulation Coordinating Committee for approval by the 601
State Board of Education and the Board of Governors statewide 602
general education core course options for inclusion in the 603
statewide course numbering system established under s. 1007.24. 604
Faculty committees shall, by July 1, 2024, and by July 1 every 4 605
years thereafter, review and submit recommendations to the 606
Articulation Coordinating Committee and the commissioner for the 607
removal, alignment, realignment, or addition of general 608
education core courses that satisfy the requirements of this 609
subsection. 610
(c) General education core courses may not distort 611
significant historical events or include a curriculum that 612
teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on 613
theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege 614
are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were 615
created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities. 616
Section 13. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 617
1012.551, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 618
1012.551 Teacher preparation core principles, standards, 619
and content.— 620
(2) The uniform core curricula for each state-approved 621
teacher preparation program must meet, at a minimum, the 622
following standards: 623
(a) May not distort significant historical events or 624
include curriculum or instruction that teaches identity 625

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politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that 626
systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent 627
in the institutions of the United States and were created to 628
maintain social, political, and economic inequities. 629
Section 14. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section 630
1012.56, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph (b), and 631
paragraph (a) of subsection (7) and present paragraph (b) of 632
subsection (8) of that section are amended to read: 633
1012.56 Educator certification requirements.— 634
(7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.— 635
(a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional 636
certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant 637
who fulfills one of the following: 638
1. Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in 639
subsection (2). 640
2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 641
through 12: 642
a. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-643
(h). 644
b. Holds a master's or higher degree in the area of 645
science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. 646
c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the 647
advanced degree. 648
d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the 649
teacher's performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part 650

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on student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized 651
assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International 652
Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate 653
examination. 654
e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional 655
education competency examination required by state board rule. 656
3. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-657
(h) and completes a professional learning certification program 658
approved by the department pursuant to paragraph (8)(b) (8)(c) 659
or an educator preparation institute approved by the department 660
pursuant to s. 1004.85. An applicant who completes one of these 661
programs and is rated highly effective as determined by his or 662
her performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 is not required to 663
take or achieve a passing score on the professional education 664
competency examination in order to be awarded a professional 665
certificate. 666
667
At least 1 year before an individual's temporary certificate is 668
set to expire, the department shall electronically notify the 669
individual of the date on which his or her certificate will 670
expire and provide a list of each method by which the 671
qualifications for a professional certificate can be completed. 672
(8) PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.— 673
(b) Professional learning certification program courses: 674
1. May not distort significant historical events or 675

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include curriculum or instruction that teaches identity 676
politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that 677
systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent 678
in the institutions of the United States and were created to 679
maintain social, political, and economic inequities. 680
2. Must afford candidates the opportunity to think 681
critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn 682
instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence. 683
Section 15. Subsection (4) of section 1012.562, Florida 684
Statutes, is amended to read: 685
1012.562 Public accountability and state approval of 686
school leader preparation programs.—The Department of Education 687
shall establish a process for the approval of Level I and Level 688
II school leader preparation programs that will enable aspiring 689
school leaders to obtain their certificates in educational 690
leadership under s. 1012.56. School leader preparation programs 691
must be competency-based, aligned to the principal leadership 692
standards adopted by the state board, and open to individuals 693
employed by public schools, including charter schools and 694
virtual schools. Level I programs lead to initial certification 695
in educational leadership for the purpose of preparing 696
individuals to serve as school administrators. Level II programs 697
build upon Level I training and lead to renewal certification as 698
a school principal. 699
(4) PROGRAM PROHIBITIONS; REQUIREMENTS.— 700

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(a) School leader preparation programs may not distort 701
significant historical events or include curriculum or 702
instruction that teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, 703
or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, 704
oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of 705
the United States and were created to maintain social, 706
political, and economic inequities. 707
(b) School leader preparation programs must afford 708
candidates the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of program 709
content, including instructional leadership strategies, coaching 710
development, school safety, and continuous improvement efforts. 711
Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 712