Bible course bill: A bill that would require all Florida public high schools to offer an elective course on the Bible is approved in an 11-3 vote by the House PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee. The course would not be mandatory, and it also will be focused solely on the Bible. But the bill sponsor, Rep. Kim Daniels, D-Jacksonville, says it is intended as an “objective study of religion” and is simply a “literacy course.” Some lawmakers question whether the bill could survive a court challenge. News Service of Florida. Associated Press. Orlando Sentinel. Gradebook. WKMG. Florida Phoenix. WFSU.
Civics education bill: The House PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee also approves a bill that would require middle school students to take a civics education course to advance to high school. The course would be reviewed for effectiveness by the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship, a partnership between the University of Florida and University of Central Florida. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Vance Aloupis, R-Miami. Associated Press.