The State Board of Education has approved new History of Communism standards that will be implemented in Florida schools starting with the 2026-2027 academic year. The standards were developed by Florida educators and subject matter experts, aiming to enhance the existing social studies curriculum.
According to Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas, “With the resurgence of communist ideologies across the United States and throughout the world, it is more important than ever for students to understand the catastrophic failures and human suffering caused by communist regimes. Florida’s new History of Communism standards will ensure that students learn the truth about the brutal realities of life under communism and gain a deeper appreciation for the blessings of liberty that define our nation.”
State Board of Education Member Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie added, “By adopting the History of Communism standards, we are equipping Florida’s students with an honest and rigorous understanding of how communist regimes exploited authority to erode freedoms and inflict generational harm. The new standards will help our youth become better informed citizens prepared to safeguard our constitutional republic for future generations.”
In recent years, Governor Ron DeSantis has taken legislative steps related to this subject. In 2022, he signed House Bill 395 into law, which established Victims of Communism Day in Florida schools. This law requires at least 45 minutes of instruction on that day about communist regimes and their impact on individuals through poverty, starvation, migration, violence, and suppression of speech and religion. In 2024, Senate Bill 1264 was enacted to expand this requirement by mandating comprehensive instruction on the history and global effects of communism.
Florida’s adoption of these new standards positions it as one of the first states in the country to provide such detailed instruction about communism in its K-12 curriculum.
