FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
CONTACT PERSON
NAME:
Levon Terrell
PHONE:
(850) 245-0425
SUNCOM:
205-0425
EMAIL:
Levon.Terrell@fldoe.org
K12:
2006-134
MEMORANDUM
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Cheri Pierson Yecke, Ph.D.
DATE:
September 6, 2006
SUBJECT:
Celebrate Freedom Week 2006
The Florida Legislature created “Celebrate Freedom Week” in response to Public Law 108-447,
which designated September 17 as “Constitution Day.” Florida has designated the last week in
September as “Celebrate Freedom Week.” The celebration is intended to reinforce the principles
and ideals on which our nation was founded: the commitment to the rule of law; government
checks and balances; and liberty, equality, and justice, which are all embodied in the United
States Constitution. The provisions of this bill include:
•
The last full week of classes in September shall be recognized in public schools as
“Celebrate Freedom Week.”
•
Celebrate Freedom Week must include at least three hours of appropriate
instruction in each social studies class, as determined by the school district, which
shall include an in-depth study of the intent, meaning, and importance of the
Declaration of Independence.
CHERI PIERSON YECKE, PH.D.
CHANCELLOR, K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS
325 W. GAINES STREET •SUITE 444• TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0426 • www.fldoe.org
•
During the last full week of September, at the beginning of each school day or
homeroom, public school principals and teachers shall conduct an oral recitation
by students of the following words from the Declaration of Independence: “We
hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments
are instituted among men, deriving their powers from the consent of the
governed.”
•
Upon written request by a student’s parent, the student must be excused from
recitation of the Declaration of Independence excerpt.
School districts are encouraged to schedule appropriate instructional and celebratory activities
for this week. Additional Internet resources include:
•
http://www.constitutionday.us
•
http://www.nara.gov/index.html
•
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/
•
http://memory.loc.gov/const/declar.html
If you have any questions or need additional information regarding the implementation of these
requirements, contact Levon Terrell at Levon.Terrell@fldoe.org or (850) 245-0780.
CPY:lt