The Florida Department of Education proudly observes September as American Founders’ Month and the last full week of classes as Celebrate Freedom Week, per section (s.) 683.1455, Florida Statutes (F.S.), and s. 1003.421, F.S., respectively.
To demonstrate the importance of the sacrifice and ideals of our founding fathers, all civic, fraternal and religious organizations, and public and private educational institutions are encouraged to offer and participate in appropriate programs.
During Celebrate Freedom Week, all social studies classes in each school district shall dedicate at least three hours to in-depth instruction of the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence. Moreover, at the beginning of each school day or in homeroom, during Celebrate Freedom Week, public school principals and teachers shall conduct an oral recitation by students of the following Preamble of the Declaration of Independence excerpt:
“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 just powers from the consent of the governed.”
In veneration of our founders, whose sacrifices sowed the fields of freedom from which Americans proudly prosper, the Florida Department of Education calls on all Floridians to observe American Founders’ Month and Celebrate Freedom Week in all manners befitting.