SESSION WATCH
THE BILL ITSELF

SB 790

Education

VERSION S 790 Filed · BACK TO THE SUMMARY · OFFICIAL RECORD

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

Florida Senate - 2026 SB 790 By Senator Davis 5-00493A-26 2026790__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; providing a short title;
3 repealing s. 1000.05(4), F.S., relating to prohibited
4 training or instruction in specified concepts which
5 constitutes discrimination on the basis of race,
6 color, national origin, or sex; repealing s. 1000.071,
7 F.S., relating to personal titles and pronouns;
8 amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; prohibiting school
9 districts from adopting a procedure that compels or
10 authorizes school personnel to share certain
11 information with a parent under certain circumstances;
12 deleting a provision authorizing school districts to
13 adopt procedures that permit school personnel to
14 withhold certain information from a parent under
15 certain circumstances; deleting a prohibition against
16 classroom instruction, in specified grades, on sexual
17 orientation and gender identity; deleting an
18 exception; deleting a provision requiring student
19 support services to adhere to specified guidelines;
20 amending s. 1001.706, F.S.; deleting a requirement for
21 the Board of Governors to include in its review of
22 state university missions a directive to each
23 constituent university regarding its programs for any
24 curriculum that violates certain provisions; repealing
25 s. 1001.92(5), F.S., relating to an educational
26 institution losing its eligibility for performance
27 funding if a certain violation is substantiated;
28 amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring instruction in
29 LGBTQ history in public schools; conforming a cross
30 reference; amending s. 1004.04, F.S.; deleting
31 requirements for teacher preparation program courses;
32 amending s. 1004.06, F.S.; authorizing and encouraging
33 Florida College System institutions, state
34 universities, and direct-support organizations to
35 develop programs based on diversity, equity, and
36 inclusion principles; authorizing the expenditure of
37 state or federal funds to promote such programs;
38 deleting a prohibition against Florida College System
39 institutions, state universities, and direct-support
40 organizations expending funds on programs or
41 activities that advocate for diversity, equity, and
42 inclusion or that promote or engage in political or
43 social activism; deleting obsolete language; amending
44 s. 1004.85, F.S.; deleting a purpose provided for the
45 creation of an educator preparation institute;
46 amending s. 1006.28, F.S.; providing that certain
47 provisions relating to district school board duties
48 and materials made available in schools do not apply
49 to classroom libraries; revising requirements for
50 resolving objections to instructional materials;
51 deleting a requirement that any instructional material
52 that is subject to an objection be removed within 5
53 school days; deleting a requirement that a school
54 board discontinue use of an instructional material if
55 certain conditions are met; authorizing school library
56 media centers to provide materials and information
57 presenting all points of view; prohibiting the
58 proscribing or removal of materials due to partisan or
59 doctrinal disapproval; amending s. 1007.25, F.S.;
60 deleting certain prohibitions for general education
61 courses; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; deleting
62 requirements for professional learning certification
63 program courses; amending s. 1012.562, F.S.; deleting
64 prohibitions for school leader preparation programs;
65 providing an effective date.
67 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
69 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Freedom to Learn
70 Act.”
71 Section 2. Subsection (4) of section 1000.05, Florida
72 Statutes, is repealed.
73 Section 3. Section 1000.071, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
74 Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section
75 1001.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
76 1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The
77 district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all
78 powers and perform all duties listed below:
79 (8) STUDENT WELFARE.—
80 (c)1. In accordance with the rights of parents enumerated
81 in ss. 1002.20 and 1014.04, adopt procedures for notifying a
82 student’s parent if there is a change in the student’s services
83 or monitoring related to the student’s mental, emotional, or
84 physical health or well-being and the school’s ability to
85 provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the
86 student. The procedures must reinforce the fundamental right of
87 parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control
88 of their children by requiring school district personnel to
89 encourage a student to discuss issues relating to his or her
90 well-being with his or her parent or to facilitate discussion of
91 the issue with the parent. The procedures may not prohibit
92 parents from accessing any of their student’s education and
93 health records created, maintained, or used by the school
94 district, as required by s. 1002.22(2).
95 2. A school district may not adopt procedures or student
96 support forms that prohibit school district personnel from
97 notifying a parent about his or her student’s mental, emotional,
98 or physical health or well-being, or a change in related
99 services or monitoring, or that encourage or have the effect of
100 encouraging a student to withhold from a parent such
101 information. School district personnel may not discourage or
102 prohibit parental notification of and involvement in critical
103 decisions affecting a student’s mental, emotional, or physical
104 health or well-being. A school district may not adopt a
105 procedure that compels or authorizes school personnel to provide
106 such information to a parent if a reasonably prudent person
107 would believe that disclosure would result in harm to the
108 student, including, but not limited to, This subparagraph does
109 not prohibit a school district from adopting procedures that
110 permit school personnel to withhold such information from a
111 parent if a reasonably prudent person would believe that
112 disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect, as
113 those terms are defined in s. 39.01.
114 3. Classroom instruction by school personnel or third
115 parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur
116 in prekindergarten through grade 8, except when required by ss.
117 1003.42(2)(o)3. and 1003.46. If such instruction is provided in
118 grades 9 through 12, the instruction must be age-appropriate or
119 developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with
120 state standards. This subparagraph applies to charter schools.
121 4. Student support services training developed or provided
122 by a school district to school district personnel must adhere to
123 student services guidelines, standards, and frameworks
124 established by the Department of Education.
125 5. At the beginning of the school year, each school
126 district shall notify parents of each health care service
127 offered at their student’s school and the option to withhold
128 consent or decline any specific service in accordance with s.
129 1014.06. Parental consent to a health care service does not
130 waive the parent’s right to access his or her student’s
131 educational or health records or to be notified about a change
132 in his or her student’s services or monitoring as provided by
133 this paragraph.
134 4. 6. Before administering a student well-being
135 questionnaire or health screening form to a student in
136 kindergarten through grade 3, the school district must provide
137 the questionnaire or health screening form to the parent and
138 obtain the permission of the parent.
139 5. 7. Each school district shall adopt procedures for a
140 parent to notify the principal, or his or her designee,
141 regarding concerns under this paragraph at his or her student’s
142 school and the process for resolving those concerns within 7
143 calendar days after notification by the parent.
144 a. At a minimum, the procedures must require that within 30
145 days after notification by the parent that the concern remains
146 unresolved, the school district must either resolve the concern
147 or provide a statement of the reasons for not resolving the
148 concern.
149 b. If a concern is not resolved by the school district, a
150 parent may:
151 (I) Request the Commissioner of Education to appoint a
152 special magistrate who is a member of The Florida Bar in good
153 standing and who has at least 5 years’ experience in
154 administrative law. The special magistrate shall determine facts
155 relating to the dispute over the school district procedure or
156 practice, consider information provided by the school district,
157 and render a recommended decision for resolution to the State
158 Board of Education within 30 days after receipt of the request
159 by the parent. The State Board of Education must approve or
160 reject the recommended decision at its next regularly scheduled
161 meeting that is more than 7 calendar days and no more than 30
162 days after the date the recommended decision is transmitted. The
163 costs of the special magistrate shall be borne by the school
164 district. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules,
165 including forms, necessary to implement this subparagraph.
166 (II) Bring an action against the school district to obtain
167 a declaratory judgment that the school district procedure or
168 practice violates this paragraph and seek injunctive relief. A
169 court may award damages and shall award reasonable attorney fees
170 and court costs to a parent who receives declaratory or
171 injunctive relief.
172 c. Each school district shall adopt and post on its website
173 policies to notify parents of the procedures required under this
174 subparagraph.
175 d. Nothing contained in this subparagraph shall be
176 construed to abridge or alter rights of action or remedies in
177 equity already existing under the common law or general law.
178 Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
179 1001.706, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
180 1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.—
181 (5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY.—
182 (a) The Legislature intends that the Board of Governors
183 shall align the missions of each constituent university with the
184 academic success of its students; the existing and emerging
185 economic development needs of the state; the national reputation
186 of its faculty and its academic and research programs; the
187 quantity of externally generated research, patents, and
188 licenses; and the strategic and accountability plans required in
189 paragraphs (b) and (c). The Board of Governors shall
190 periodically review the mission of each constituent university
191 and make updates or revisions as needed. Upon completion of a
192 review of the mission, the board shall review existing academic
193 programs for alignment with the mission. The board shall include
194 in its review a directive to each constituent university
195 regarding its programs for any curriculum that violates s.
196 1000.05 or that is based on theories that systemic racism,
197 sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the
198 institutions of the United States and were created to maintain
199 social, political, and economic inequities. The mission
200 alignment and strategic plan must consider peer institutions at
201 the constituent universities. The mission alignment and
202 strategic plan must acknowledge that universities that have a
203 national and international impact have the greatest capacity to
204 promote the state’s economic development through: new
205 discoveries, patents, licenses, and technologies that generate
206 state businesses of global importance; research achievements
207 through external grants and contracts that are comparable to
208 nationally recognized and ranked universities; the creation of a
209 resource rich academic environment that attracts high-technology
210 business and venture capital to the state; and this generation’s
211 finest minds focusing on solving the state’s economic, social,
212 environmental, and legal problems in the areas of life sciences,
213 water, sustainability, energy, and health care. A nationally
214 recognized and ranked university that has a global perspective
215 and impact must be afforded the opportunity to enable and
216 protect the university’s competitiveness on the global stage in
217 fair competition with other institutions of other states in the
218 highest Carnegie Classification.
219 Section 6. Subsection (5) of section 1001.92, Florida
220 Statutes, is repealed.
221 Section 7. Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section
222 1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (w) is
223 added to that subsection, to read:
224 1003.42 Required instruction.—
225 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
226 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
227 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
228 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
229 highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
230 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
231 approved methods of instruction, the following:
232 (g)1. The history of the Holocaust (1933-1945), the
233 systematic, planned annihilation of European Jews and other
234 groups by Nazi Germany, a watershed event in the history of
235 humanity, to be taught in a manner that leads to an
236 investigation of human behavior, an understanding of the
237 ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, and an
238 examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful
239 person, for the purposes of encouraging tolerance of diversity
240 in a pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting
241 democratic values and institutions, including the policy,
242 definition, and historical and current examples of antisemitism,
243 as described in s. 1000.05(7) s. 1000.05(8) , and the prevention
244 of antisemitism. Each school district must annually certify and
245 provide evidence to the department, in a manner prescribed by
246 the department, that the requirements of this paragraph are met.
247 The department shall prepare and offer standards and curriculum
248 for the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek
249 input from the Commissioner of Education’s Task Force on
250 Holocaust Education or from any state or nationally recognized
251 Holocaust educational organizations. The department may contract
252 with any state or nationally recognized Holocaust educational
253 organizations to develop training for instructional personnel
254 and grade-appropriate classroom resources to support the
255 developed curriculum.
256 2. The second week in November shall be designated as
257 “Holocaust Education Week” in this state in recognition that
258 November is the anniversary of Kristallnacht, widely recognized
259 as a precipitating event that led to the Holocaust.
260 (w) The study of LGBTQ history in Florida and the LGBTQ
261 community’s contributions to the United States, which may
262 include important United States Supreme Court cases, such as
263 Obergefell v. Hodges and Windsor v. United States; the Florida
264 Legislative Investigation Committee; and the tragedy at Pulse
265 Nightclub.
267 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
268 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
269 Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
270 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
271 offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
272 other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
273 initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u).
274 Section 8. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
275 1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
276 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
277 teacher preparation programs.—
278 (2) UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA AND CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT.—
279 (e) Teacher preparation program courses:
280 1. May not distort significant historical events or include
281 a curriculum or instruction that teaches identity politics,
282 violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that systemic
283 racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the
284 institutions of the United States and were created to maintain
285 social, political, and economic inequities.
286 2. Must afford candidates the opportunity to think
287 critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn
288 instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence.
289 Section 9. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 1004.06,
290 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
291 1004.06 Prohibited expenditures.—
292 (2) A Florida College System institution, state university,
293 Florida College System institution direct-support organization,
294 or state university direct-support organization may , and is
295 encouraged to, develop programs and campus activities anchored
296 in the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Programs
297 and courses may not expend any state or federal funds to
298 promote, support, or maintain any such programs or campus
299 activities that:
300 (a) Violate s. 1000.05; or
301 (b) Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, or
302 promote or engage in political or social activism, as defined by
303 rules of the State Board of Education and regulations of the
304 Board of Governors .
306 Student fees to support student-led organizations are permitted
307 notwithstanding any speech or expressive activity by such
308 organizations which would otherwise violate this subsection ,
309 provided that the public funds must be allocated to student-led
310 organizations pursuant to written policies or regulations of
311 each Florida College System institution or state university, as
312 applicable. Use of institution facilities by student-led
313 organizations is permitted notwithstanding any speech or
314 expressive activity by such organizations which would otherwise
315 violate this subsection , provided that such use must be granted
316 to student-led organizations pursuant to written policies or
317 regulations of each Florida College System institution or state
318 university, as applicable.
319 (3) Subsection (2) does not prohibit programs, campus
320 activities, or functions required for compliance with general or
321 federal laws or regulations; for obtaining or retaining
322 institutional or discipline-specific accreditation with the
323 approval of either the State Board of Education or the Board of
324 Governors; or for access programs for military veterans, Pell
325 Grant recipients, first generation college students,
326 nontraditional students, “2+2” transfer students from the
327 Florida College System, students from low-income families, or
328 students with unique abilities.
329 Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
330 1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
331 1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
332 (2)(a) Postsecondary institutions that are accredited or
333 approved as described in State Board of Education rule may seek
334 approval from the Department of Education to create educator
335 preparation institutes for the purpose of providing any or all
336 of the following:
337 1. Professional learning instruction to assist teachers in
338 improving classroom instruction and in meeting certification or
339 recertification requirements.
340 2. Instruction to assist potential and existing substitute
341 teachers in performing their duties.
342 3. Instruction to assist paraprofessionals in meeting
343 education and training requirements.
344 4. Instruction for baccalaureate degree holders to become
345 certified teachers as provided in this section in order to
346 increase routes to the classroom for professionals who hold a
347 baccalaureate degree and college graduates who were not
348 education majors.
349 5. Instruction and professional learning for part-time and
350 full-time nondegreed teachers of career programs under s.
351 1012.39(1)(c).
352 6. Instruction that does not distort significant historical
353 events or include a curriculum or instruction that teaches
354 identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories
355 that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are
356 inherent in the institutions of the United States and were
357 created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.
358 Courses and instruction within the educator preparation
359 institute must afford candidates the opportunity to think
360 critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn
361 instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence.
362 Section 11. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (2) of
363 section 1006.28, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
364 1006.28 Duties of district school board, district school
365 superintendent; and school principal regarding K-12
366 instructional materials.—
367 (2) DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.—The district school board has
368 the constitutional duty and responsibility to select and provide
369 adequate instructional materials for all students in accordance
370 with the requirements of this part. The district school board
371 also has the following specific duties and responsibilities:
372 (a) Courses of study; adoption.—Adopt courses of study,
373 including instructional materials, for use in the schools of the
374 district.
375 1. Each district school board is responsible for the
376 content of all instructional materials and any other materials
377 used in a classroom, made available in a school or classroom
378 library, or included on a reading list, whether adopted and
379 purchased from the state-adopted instructional materials list,
380 adopted and purchased through a district instructional materials
381 program under s. 1006.283, or otherwise purchased or made
382 available.
383 2. Each district school board must adopt a policy regarding
384 an objection by a parent or a resident of the county to the use
385 of a specific material, which clearly describes a process to
386 handle all objections and provides for resolution. The objection
387 form, as prescribed by State Board of Education rule, and the
388 district school board’s process must be easy to read and
389 understand and be easily accessible on the homepage of the
390 school district’s website. The objection form must also identify
391 the school district point of contact and contact information for
392 the submission of an objection. The process must provide the
393 parent or resident the opportunity to proffer evidence to the
394 district school board that:
395 a. An instructional material does not meet the criteria of
396 s. 1006.31(2) or s. 1006.40(3)(c) if it was selected for use in
397 a course or otherwise made available to students in the school
398 district but was not subject to the public notice, review,
399 comment, and hearing procedures under s. 1006.283(2)(b)8., 9.,
400 and 11.
401 b. Any material used in a classroom, made available in a
402 school or classroom library, or included on a reading list
403 contains content which:
404 (I) Is pornographic or prohibited under s. 847.012;
405 (II) Depicts or describes sexual conduct as defined in s.
406 847.001(19), unless such material is for a course required by s.
407 1003.46 or s. 1003.42(2)(o)1.g. or 3., or identified by State
408 Board of Education rule;
409 (III) Is not suited to student needs and their ability to
410 comprehend the material presented; or
411 (III) (IV) Is inappropriate for the grade level and age
412 group for which the material is used.
414 A resident of the county who is not the parent or guardian of a
415 student with access to school district materials may not object
416 to more than one material per month. The State Board of
417 Education may adopt rules to implement this provision. Any
418 material that is subject to an objection on the basis of sub
419 sub-subparagraph b.(I) or sub-sub-subparagraph b.(II) must be
420 removed within 5 school days after receipt of the objection and
421 remain unavailable to students of that school until the
422 objection is resolved. Parents shall have the right to read
423 passages from any material that is subject to an objection. If
424 the school board denies a parent the right to read passages due
425 to content that meets the requirements under sub-sub
426 subparagraph b.(I), the school district shall discontinue the
427 use of the material in the school district. If the district
428 school board finds that any material meets the requirements
429 under sub-subparagraph a. or that any other material contains
430 prohibited content under sub-sub-subparagraph b.(I), the school
431 district shall discontinue use of the material. If the district
432 school board finds that any other material contains prohibited
433 content under sub-sub-subparagraphs b.(II)-(IV), the school
434 district shall discontinue use of the material for any grade
435 level or age group for which such use is inappropriate or
436 unsuitable.
437 3. Each district school board must establish a process by
438 which the parent of a public school student or a resident of the
439 county may contest the district school board’s adoption of a
440 specific instructional material. The parent or resident must
441 file a petition, on a form provided by the school board, within
442 30 calendar days after the adoption of the instructional
443 material by the school board. The school board shall must make
444 the form available to the public and publish the form on the
445 school district’s website. The form must be signed by the parent
446 or resident , include the required contact information, and state
447 the objection to the instructional material based on the
448 criteria of s. 1006.31(2) or s. 1006.40(3)(c). Within 30 days
449 after the 30-day period has expired, the school board must, for
450 all petitions timely received, conduct at least one open public
451 hearing before an unbiased and qualified hearing officer. The
452 hearing officer may not be an employee or agent of the school
453 district. The hearing is not subject to the provisions of
454 chapter 120; however, the hearing must provide sufficient
455 procedural protections to allow each petitioner an adequate and
456 fair opportunity to be heard and present evidence to the hearing
457 officer. The school board’s decision after convening a hearing
458 is final and not subject to further petition or review.
459 4. Meetings of committees convened for the purpose of
460 ranking, eliminating, or selecting instructional materials for
461 recommendation to the district school board must be noticed and
462 open to the public in accordance with s. 286.011. Any committees
463 convened for such purposes must include parents of students who
464 will have access to such materials.
465 5. Meetings of committees convened for the purpose of
466 resolving an objection by a parent or resident to specific
467 materials must be noticed and open to the public in accordance
468 with s. 286.011. Any committees convened for such purposes must
469 include parents of students who will have access to such
470 materials.
471 6. If a parent disagrees with the determination made by the
472 district school board on the objection to the use of a specific
473 material, a parent may request the Commissioner of Education to
474 appoint a special magistrate who is a member of The Florida Bar
475 in good standing and who has at least 5 years’ experience in
476 administrative law. The special magistrate shall determine facts
477 relating to the school district’s determination, consider
478 information provided by the parent and the school district, and
479 render a recommended decision for resolution to the State Board
480 of Education within 30 days after receipt of the request by the
481 parent. The State Board of Education must approve or reject the
482 recommended decision at its next regularly scheduled meeting
483 that is more than 7 calendar days and no more than 30 days after
484 the date the recommended decision is transmitted. The costs of
485 the special magistrate shall be borne by the school district.
486 The State Board of Education shall adopt rules, including forms,
487 necessary to implement this subparagraph.
488 (d) School library media services; establishment and
489 maintenance.—Establish and maintain a program of school library
490 media services for all public schools in the district, including
491 school library media centers, or school library media centers
492 open to the public, and, in addition to such traveling or
493 circulating libraries as may be needed for the proper operation
494 of the district school system. School librarians, media
495 specialists, and other personnel involved in the selection of
496 school district library materials must complete the training
497 program developed pursuant to s. 1006.29(6) before reviewing and
498 selecting age-appropriate materials and library resources. Upon
499 written request, a school district shall provide access to any
500 material or book specified in the request that is maintained in
501 a district school system library and is available for review.
502 1. Each book made available to students through a school
503 district library media center or included in a recommended or
504 assigned school or grade-level reading list must be selected by
505 a school district employee who holds a valid educational media
506 specialist certificate, regardless of whether the book is
507 purchased, donated, or otherwise made available to students.
508 2. Each district school board shall adopt procedures for
509 developing library media center collections and post the
510 procedures on the website for each school within the district.
511 School library media centers may provide materials and
512 information presenting all points of view on current and
513 historical issues. Materials may not be proscribed or removed
514 because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. The procedures
515 must:
516 a. Require that book selections meet the criteria in s.
517 1006.40(3)(c).
518 b. Require consultation of reputable, professionally
519 recognized reviewing periodicals and school community
520 stakeholders.
521 c. Provide for library media center collections, including
522 classroom libraries, based on reader interest, support of state
523 academic standards and aligned curriculum, and the academic
524 needs of students and faculty.
525 d. Provide for the regular removal or discontinuance of
526 books based on, at a minimum, physical condition, rate of recent
527 circulation, alignment to state academic standards and relevancy
528 to curriculum, out-of-date content, and required removal
529 pursuant to subparagraph (a)2.
530 3. Each elementary school must publish on its website, in a
531 searchable format prescribed by the department, a list of all
532 materials maintained and accessible in the school library media
533 center or a classroom library or required as part of a school or
534 grade-level reading list.
535 4. Each district school board shall adopt and publish on
536 its website the process for a parent to limit his or her
537 student’s access to materials in the school or classroom
538 library.
539 Section 12. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
540 1007.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
541 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites;
542 other degree requirements.—
543 (3) The chair of the State Board of Education and the chair
544 of the Board of Governors, or their designees, shall jointly
545 appoint faculty committees to review and recommend to the
546 Articulation Coordinating Committee for approval by the State
547 Board of Education and the Board of Governors statewide general
548 education core course options for inclusion in the statewide
549 course numbering system established under s. 1007.24. Faculty
550 committees shall, by July 1, 2024, and by July 1 every 4 years
551 thereafter, review and submit recommendations to the
552 Articulation Coordinating Committee and the commissioner for the
553 removal, alignment, realignment, or addition of general
554 education core courses that satisfy the requirements of this
555 subsection.
556 (c) General education core courses may not distort
557 significant historical events or include a curriculum that
558 teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05, or is based on
559 theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege
560 are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were
561 created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.
562 Section 13. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) and paragraph
563 (b) of subsection (8) of section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are
564 amended to read:
565 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
566 (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
567 (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
568 certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
569 who fulfills one of the following:
570 1. Meets all the applicable requirements outlined in
571 subsection (2).
572 2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 through
573 12:
574 a. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
575 (h).
576 b. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
577 science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
578 c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
579 advanced degree.
580 d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the teacher’s
581 performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part on
582 student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
583 assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
584 Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
585 examination.
586 e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
587 education competency examination required by state board rule.
588 3. Meets the applicable requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)
589 (h) and completes a professional learning certification program
590 approved by the department pursuant to paragraph (8)(b) (8)(c)
591 or an educator preparation institute approved by the department
592 pursuant to s. 1004.85. An applicant who completes one of these
593 programs and is rated highly effective as determined by his or
594 her performance evaluation under s. 1012.34 is not required to
595 take or achieve a passing score on the professional education
596 competency examination in order to be awarded a professional
597 certificate.
599 At least 1 year before an individual’s temporary certificate is
600 set to expire, the department shall electronically notify the
601 individual of the date on which his or her certificate will
602 expire and provide a list of each method by which the
603 qualifications for a professional certificate can be completed.
604 (8) PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.—
605 (b) Professional learning certification program courses:
606 1. May not distort significant historical events or include
607 curriculum or instruction that teaches identity politics,
608 violates s. 1000.05, or is based on theories that systemic
609 racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the
610 institutions of the United States and were created to maintain
611 social, political, and economic inequities.
612 2. Must afford candidates the opportunity to think
613 critically, achieve mastery of academic program content, learn
614 instructional strategies, and demonstrate competence.
615 Section 14. Subsection (4) of section 1012.562, Florida
616 Statutes, is amended to read:
617 1012.562 Public accountability and state approval of school
618 leader preparation programs.—The Department of Education shall
619 establish a process for the approval of Level I and Level II
620 school leader preparation programs that will enable aspiring
621 school leaders to obtain their certificates in educational
622 leadership under s. 1012.56. School leader preparation programs
623 must be competency-based, aligned to the principal leadership
624 standards adopted by the state board, and open to individuals
625 employed by public schools, including charter schools and
626 virtual schools. Level I programs lead to initial certification
627 in educational leadership for the purpose of preparing
628 individuals to serve as school administrators. Level II programs
629 build upon Level I training and lead to renewal certification as
630 a school principal.
631 (4) PROGRAM PROHIBITIONS; REQUIREMENTS.—
632 (a) School leader preparation programs may not distort
633 significant historical events or include curriculum or
634 instruction that teaches identity politics, violates s. 1000.05,
635 or is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism,
636 oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of
637 the United States and were created to maintain social,
638 political, and economic inequities.
639 (b) School leader preparation programs must afford
640 candidates the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of program
641 content, including instructional leadership strategies, coaching
642 development, school safety, and continuous improvement efforts.
643 Section 15. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.