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
     
     
     
     
     
     

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