DR. FRANCES HAITHCOCK
CHANCELLOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
325 W. GAINES STREET •SUITE 1502• TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
MARK KAPLAN
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
JOHN R. PADGET
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
SUSAN STORY
MEMORANDUM
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Dr. Frances Haithcock
DATE:
August 20, 2010
SUBJECT:
C
onstitution Day and Celebrate Freedom Week 2010
September 17, 2010 and September 20-24, 2010
In response to Public Law 108-447, which designated September 17 as “Constitution Day”, the
Florida Legislature designated the last full week in September as “Celebrate Freedom Week.”
This week of celebration is intended to allow for appropriate instruction and activities that will
help to reinforce the principles and ideals on which our nation was founded. The provisions of
the Statute 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.
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.”
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Commissioner of Education
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Patty Ceci
(
850) 245-0903
Patty.Ceci@fldoe.org
DPS: 2010-150
Constitution Day and Celebrate Freedom Week 2010
August 20, 2010
Page Two
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. The Department has compiled the Governor’s Proclamation, online resources, and
a recommended reading list at http://www.fldoe.org/BII/Humanities/celebratefreedom.asp.
If you have any questions or need additional information regarding the implementation of these
requirements, please contact Patty Ceci at Patty.Ceci@fldoe.org or (850) 245- 0903.
FH/pc
