Adoption of Proclamation – “Celebrate Freedom Week” – September 25–29, 2006

Florida Statute 1003.421 declares that the last full week in September be recognized in public schools as Celebrate Freedom Week. Celebrate Freedom Week actvities include a minimum of three hours of appropriate in-depth instruction in each K-12 social studies class on the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration in Independence. The statute requires that students recite a portion of the Declaration of Independence daily during this commemoration.

Pursuant to federal law enacted under the 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Section III(b), all schools who receive federal funds are required to celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17 of each year. This date commemorates the signing of the Constitution in 1787. Since September 17, 2006, falls on a Sunday, Hillsborough District will observe Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on Monday, September 18, 2006. All students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 are to participate in activities commemorating this day. This requirement can be fulfilled by conducting a social studies lesson on citizenship or the United States Constitution.

Student recitation of the following statement will serve to reaffirm the American ideals of individual liberty:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable 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 governed.”

Goal 1 – The percentage of students scoring at Level 3 or higher on FCAT reading will increase a minimum of 5 percentage points.

This agenda item has no additional cost to the District.