6A-1.094124. Required Instruction Planning and Reporting

(1)(a) Each year school districts must submit a Required Instruction Implementation Plan that describes how instruction will be provided for topics in Section 1003.42(2)(a)-(o) and (q)-(u), F.S., for the upcoming school year.

(b) The Implementation Plan must be submitted electronically to https://districts.flimadoption.org.

(c) Except for the 2024-25 school year, the implementation plan is due no later than July 1. For the 2024-25 school year, the implementation plan is due no later than August 15, 2024. 

(2) The implementation plan must include:

(a) The methods in which instruction will be delivered for each grade level;

(b) The professional qualifications of the person delivering instruction; and

(c) A description of the materials and resources utilized to deliver instruction.

(3) As provided in Section 1003.42(2), F.S., members of instructional staff in public schools must teach the required instruction topics efficiently and faithfully, using materials that meet the highest standards of professionalism and historical accuracy.

(a) Efficient and faithful teaching of the required topics must be consistent with the state academic standards and the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards.

(b) Instruction on the required topics must be factual and objective, and may not suppress or distort significant historical events, such as the Holocaust, slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the civil rights movement and the contributions of women, African American and Hispanic people to our country, as already provided in Section 1003.42(2), F.S. Examples of theories that distort historical events and are inconsistent with State Board approved standards include the denial or minimization of the Holocaust, and the teaching of Critical Race Theory, meaning the theory that racism is not merely the product of prejudice, but that racism is embedded in American society and its legal systems in order to uphold the supremacy of white persons. Instruction may not utilize material from the 1619 Project and may not define American history as something other than the creation of a new nation based largely on universal principles stated in the Declaration of Independence. Instruction must include the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments.

(c) Efficient and faithful teaching further means that any discussion is appropriate for the age and maturity level of the students, and teachers serve as facilitators for student discussion and do not share their personal views or attempt to indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view that is inconsistent with the state academic standards and the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards.

(4) Resiliency Education: Civic and Character Education and Life Skills Education.

(a) Civic and character education, and life skills education that builds confidence and supports mental health, are combined to develop and prepare more resilient students. The purpose of aligning these two components of statutorily required instruction is to initiate a first in the nation approach to connecting the concepts of students’ readiness, resiliency and, when necessary, response and recovery.

(b) School districts must annually provide a minimum of five (5) hours of data-driven instruction to students in grades 6-12 related to civic and character education and life skills education through resiliency education using the health education standards adopted in Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C., Student Performance Standards. The instruction will advance each year through developmentally appropriate instruction and skill building and must address, at a minimum, the following topics:

1. Strategies specific to demonstrating resiliency through adversity, including the benefits of service to the community through volunteerism;

2. Strategies to develop healthy characteristics that reinforce positive core values and foster resiliency such as:

a. Empathy, perseverance, grit, gratitude and responsibility;

b. Critical thinking, problem solving and responsible decision-making;

c. Self-awareness and self-management;

d. Mentorship and citizenship; and

e. Honesty.

3. Recognition of signs and symptoms of mental health concerns;

4. Promotion of resiliency to empower youth to persevere and reverse the harmful stigma of mental health by reframing the approach from mental health education to resiliency education;

5. Strategies to support a peer, friend, or family member through adversity;

6. Prevention of suicide;

7. Prevention of the abuse of and addiction to alcohol, nicotine, and drugs; and

8. Awareness of local school and community resources and the process for accessing assistance.

(5) Substance Use and Abuse Health Education.

(a) School districts must annually provide instruction to students in grades K-12 related to youth substance use and abuse health education.

(b) Using the health education standards adopted in Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C., Student Performance Standards, the instruction for substance use and abuse education will advance each year through developmentally appropriate instruction and skill building.

(6) Child Trafficking Prevention Education.

(a) It is the intent of the State Board of Education that every school in Florida be a “Child Trafficking Free Zone.”

(b) School districts must annually provide instruction to students in grades K-12 related to child trafficking prevention and awareness.

(c) Using the health education standards adopted in Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C., Student Performance Standards, the instruction for child trafficking prevention will advance each year through developmentally appropriate instruction and skill building.

(d) Age-appropriate elements of effective and evidence-based programs and instruction to students in grades K-12 related to child trafficking prevention and awareness and must address, at a minimum, the following topics:

1. Recognition of signs of human trafficking;

2. Awareness of resources, including national, state and local resources;

3. Prevention of the abuse of and addiction to alcohol, nicotine, and drugs;

4. Information on the prevalence, nature, and strategies to reduce the risk of human trafficking, techniques to set healthy boundaries, and how to safely seek assistance; and

5. Information on how social media and mobile device applications are used for human trafficking.

(e) In order to assist with instruction, the department will maintain a human trafficking webpage, located at http://www.fldoe.org/schools/healthy-schools/human-trafficking.stml, with information about the education described in this rule; resources on abuse, including sexual abuse, and human trafficking prevention for professional learning purposes; and materials for parents, guardians, and other caretakers of students.

(7) The History of the Holocaust (1933-1945) and The History of African Americans.

(a) Each superintendent, or designee, must certify that the requirements of Sections 1003.42(2)(g) and (h), F.S., have been met. The certification, Form RI-1, Certifications Required by Section 1003.42, Florida Statutes, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16694) (effective July 2024) is incorporated by reference and may be obtained at https://districts.flimadoption.org.

(b) This certification must be submitted electronically to https://districts.flimadoption.org.

(c) Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, the certification is due annually by July 1. The certification for the 2023-24 school year is due August 15, 2024.

(8) When a school district’s plan for instruction as set forth in subsection (2) does not meet the requirements of this rule or Section 1003.42, F.S., school districts must be provided no less than forty-five (45) days in order to submit revisions to the department.

(9) Failure to comply with the requirements of this rule may result in the imposition of sanctions described in Section 1008.32, F.S.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(2)(n), 1003.42(2) FS. Law Implemented 1003.42 FS. History–New 10-24-19, Amended 12-22-20, 7-26-21, 11-23-22, 7-2-24.