FAQ on AAPI History Bill

FAQ on AAPI history bill and K-12 Curriculum in Florida

What history is required in current Florida law? 

African American history has been required in FL K-12 schools since 1994.

Holocaust Studies has been required in FL K-12 schools since 1994.

Hispanic contributions have been required in FL K-12 schools since 1998.

Current education statutes providing greater detail on the above can be found here.  The AAPI history section will be added starting July 1, 2023.  

Is African American history still being taught in schools? 

Yes. As a matter of fact, both AfAm History and Holocaust Studies each have History task forces under the Commissioner of Education.  

What happened to the original stand alone bill for AAPI history inclusion: HB 287 and SB 294? 

Please see our legislative timeline below.

What does it mean to be amended onto another bill? 

This means the language of one bill is added onto another bill that generally covers the same issue area, for example: education.  This process typically happens when there is limited time left in a legislative session and the ‘amended language’ is noncontroversial.  Sometime, a single bill will become ‘a vehicle,’ meaning that many amendments including different bill language are made to it in order to pass in a timely fashion.

How do I read bill language? 

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.  All other language represents existing statute language (ie. already law!).

Which bill did AAPI History get amended to?

HB 1537 

HB 1537 does not include any changes that specifically target and/or limit the teaching of African American history.  

Any language concerning African American history, Hispanic contributions, or the history of the Holocaust is from prior bills from prior years. Only the AAPI portion is underlined in Section 6 of HB 1537.

Did MUVFL work with other community members on the AAPI history bill? 

Our Florida coalition reflects a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, interfaith effort. Many of our allies residing in Florida represent the African American, Hispanic and LGBTQ+ communities.

In addition to the community, many legislators from diverse backgrounds have helped guide us through the legislative process over the last two years.  Senator Shevrin Jones, Representative Anna V. Eskamani and Representative Anika Omphroy have been important advisors.

Please also see our list of supporting organizations who signed our petition and sponsored events below!

What will be taught in the AAPI history curriculum in Florida?

We are requesting the Commissioner to establish an AAPI History task force to help oversee the implementation and development of our AAPI history mandate.  

Why was Japanese Internment camps added to the Florida bill language? 

Japanese Internment camp language was added at the request of Representative Randy Fine (R- Brevard County) and Representative Christopher Benjamin (D-Miami-Dade County) who wanted to specifically ensure that this mistake of America’s past taught is taught so it is not repeated.  The general language of the bill includes provisions to teach both negative and positive elements within Asian American and Pacific Islander history.

Why does the Florida bill include AAPI, versus Asian American or AANHPI?

Regarding the specific language of the AAPI curriculum mandate, we encourage all state chapters to use language that reflects the diversity of their coalition, so as not to speak on behalf of communities they do not represent.  The FL team decided to use AAPI as their coalition reflected Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.  

The Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago-led TEAACH Act, which passed in Illinois was focused solely on Asian American history.   No K-12 Asian American history state-wide mandate has included reference to any specific ethnic or regional group until Florida, which references Japanese Internment camps as a required subject.  CA's AB 101 Ethnic Studies Graduation Requirement does not cover K-8.  Wisconsin's bill AB 232 specifically references Hmong American history given the large population within their state, but otherwise focuses only on Asian Americans.  We consider South East Asian American history, similar to East Asian American, Central Asian American, West Asian American and South Asian American history to be included within Asian American history.

Other notable bills that passed through the legislature unanimously and signed into law:

HB 551: Requires school districts to report yearly to the Florida Department of Education with proof that African American history lessons are being taught, how, and in what ways the curriculum can be improved, and to submit an implementation plan.  HB 551 was signed into law on May 17, 2023. African American history now joins Holocaust Education in this reporting requirement. 

HB 269: Following a rise in anti-Semitic attacks, strengthens the FL hate crimes statute so that the harassment or intimidation of someone based on their religion or ethnicity is a hate crime that can be prosecuted as a third-degree felony.

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LEGISLATIVE TIMELINE

2021-2022:

- MUV FL formed July 2021

- HB 281, led by Rep. Anna Eskamani (D), and SB 490 led by Sen. Linda Stewart (D) filed

- SB 490 heard in Education Committee and passed unanimously

  - Press Conference after passing in Senate

- Sine Die, both bills die, HB 281 with four committee stops remaining, SB 490 with two committee stops remaining

- Bills shared 27 bipartisan co-sponsors

Community events hosted: 

• MUV FL Town Hall: On July 22nd, MUV-FL was joined by Representative Anna Eskamani (HD-47) and Dr. Jason Chang from the University of Connecticut to discuss the importance of community in our fight for racial justice in education. Students, parents, and educators joined us to ask questions and learn more about the next steps after our petition! 

• Student Town Hall: On September 23, 2021 MUV FL hosted a discussion with Florida students who come from diverse experiences and backgrounds! We are so proud of all who joined us tonight to share their truth to power. 

• MUV FL Day of Action:  On December 4th, 2021, community members from across the state of Florida joined us to speak with Representatives, learn AAPI history, and share their stories to voice the importance of AAPI inclusion in public education.

2022-2023:

- Rep. Eskamani recommends new, Republican bill sponsors due to Republican supermajority

- HB 287, led by Rep. Susan Plasencia (R), and SB 294 led by Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez (R) filed

- SB 294 passes through Education Pre-K-12 Committee unanimously

- HB 287 passes through Ed. Quality Subcommittee unanimously

- HB 287 passes through Pre-K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee unanimously

- HB 287 passes through Education and Employment Committee unanimously, with an amendment to include language concerning Japanese American incarceration at the request of Rep. Randy Fine (R) and Rep. Christopher Benjami (D)

- HB 287 passes House Floor unanimously

- Bills shared 75 bipartisan co-sponsors

- Language amended onto HB 1537 and SB 1430, Education omnibus bills

- HB 1537 passes House and Senate with unanimous support; receives amendment in Senate

- HB 1537 passes through House

- HB 1537 signed into law by Governor along with 6 other education bills

Community events hosted/attended

• MUV FL Miami Community Event: On July 29, 2022 More than 30 Asian American community organizations from across South Florida have sponsored the event, which will be attended by a bipartisan group of more than 15 elected officials and their offices, including multiple Commissioners, legislators, school board members, and the Office of Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez who is Chair of the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation to Tallahassee.  Community leaders and coalition members from across the state will be in attendance, including Asian Americans from Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Seminole, Orange, and Hillsborough counties.

• MUV FL Educators Workshop with Asian American Education Project: December 8, 2022 MUV FL hosted a workshop for educators

• Moon Over Avalon August Moon Festival

• Fusion Fest Orlando

Our Petition: Over 15,000 signatures; petition closed after bill signed into law.

List of partners and sponsors:

• AAPI Youth Rising

• ACT: Asian American Pacific Islanders Coming Together

• America-China Enterprise Chamber of Commerce- FL

• American Chinese United Association

• APABA South Florida

• Asian American Chamber of Commerce - Orlando

• Asian American Federation of Florida - South Region

• Asian American Journalists Association

• Asian American Resources Center

• Asian American Student Association at the University of Miami

• Asian American Student Union at the University of West Florida

• Asian Caribbean Exchange Talk

• Asian Coalition of Tallahassee

• Asian Organizations for Muslim, Arab, Desi Inclusivity

• Asian Trend

• Bento Asian Kitchen and Sushi

• Chinese Association of Science, Education, and Culture of South Florida

• Chinese Student and Scholar Association at the University of Miami

• Compass Solutions Consultants, LLC.

• Control Your Health, LLC

• Coral Springs Chinese Cultural Association

• Emgage

• Femme Fire Books

• Filipino American Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce

• Filipino American Veterans Society, Jacksonville

• Florida Asian American Student Union

• Florida Asian Services

• Florida Asian Women Alliance

• Florida Immigrant Coalition

• Florida Policy Institute

• FSU AASU

• FSU Filipino Student Association

• Golden Pen Realty, LLC

• Great Orlando Asian American Bar Association

• Greater Orlando Chinese Professionals Association

• Hawkers

• Henan American Association in FL

• Hindu American Political Action Committee of Florida

• House of Lead & Bean, Inc.

• Indian Horizon of Florida

• King Cajun Crawfish

• League of Women Voters Florida

• MASA Fund

• Meng's Kitchen

• Miami Chinese Welfare Council

• Miami-Dade Asian American Advisory Council

• Multicultural Dimensions

• Muslim Student Association at UCF

• NAAAP Miami

• NAACP Orange County, FL Branch

• NAAP Orange County, FL Branch

• NAAP Orlando

• NAAP Tampa

• NAPAWF Florida

• National Asian American PAC, FL

• National Federation of Filipino American Associations - Southern Region

• Networking for Hindu Professionals SFL

• OCA South Florida

• On Leong Merchant Association - Miami Chapter

• Orlando Queer and Trans Asian Association

• Osceola County Education Association

• Pak American Association of South Florida

• Palestinian Student Association at UCF

• Phamily Pantry Inc.

• Philippine Cultural Foundation, Inc.

• R.E.A.C.H. of Central Florida

• Stetson Asian Pacific American Coalition

• Suncoast Association of Chinese Americans

• Taiwan Benevolent Association of Florida

• Thai American Association of South Florida Inc

• The Asian American Education Project

• The Filipino Stident Assocation UCF

• The Federation of Florida Chinese Associations

• United Chinese Americans

• United Chinese News of Florida

• United Way of Palm Beach County

• VASA: Vietnamese American Student Association UCF

• Veterans Memorial & Multicultural Histories Incorporated

• Viet-Nomz

• Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple

• World Kwong Tung Community Association - Miami Chapter

• Young Democrats of Orange County