Florida Statutes Pertaining to Social Studies

FS 1003.4156 Middle School Promotion. This statute now requires “Three middle school or higher courses in social studies, one semester of which must include the study of state and federal government and civics education.”

FS 1003.42 Commonly called the “required instruction statute” this is a time-honored list of content knowledge with all school districts and schools must teach to children in enrolled in public school. This statute pertains primarily to Social Studies. You will search in vain for any mention of Reading, Science or Math content knowledge.

FS 1003.421 Commonly called the “Celebrate Freedom Week Law” this law establishes the last full week of September of each year as a time where all students must recite daily several key sentence from the Declaration of Independence. Moreover, each school district must ensure teachers must provide “at least 3 hours of appropriate instruction in each social studies class, as determined by each school district, which instruction shall include an in-depth study of the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence.

FS 1003.43 General Requirements for Graduation. Specifies the number of social studies credits and what specific courses students must successfully complete to earn a diploma.

FS 1003.44 Patriotic Programs, Rules Allows school districts to adopt rules which require teachers and students to participate in programs of a patriotic nature, specifying how the Pledge to Allegiance is to be conducted and how documents of a religious nature may be used with students. It also describes an exemption process.
FS 1003.45 Permitting the Study of the Bible and religion; permitting brief meditation period

FS 1003.45 Permitting the Study of the Bible and religion; permitting brief meditation period

FS 1008.22 Florida’s Assessment Statute

FS 1008.25 Public school student progression; remedial instruction; reporting requirements. This law s repeatedly specifies that student performance in reading, writing, mathematics and science must be taken into consideration when a student is being considered for promotion from one grade level to the next.