To combat what Gov. Ron DeSantis calls the “romanticizing” of socialism, Florida has enacted a new law that will require public schools to teach students about the history of communism, starting from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.
Signed by the governor on Wednesday, which was the 63rd anniversary of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion to overthrow Fidel Castro’s communist regime in Cuba, the bill mandates that lessons on communism be “age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate” for each grade level.
The curriculum, to be developed by the Florida Department of Education and implemented in the 2026-27 school year, will cover topics such as the history of communism in the United States, the “increasing threat of communism” in the country, and the “atrocities committed in foreign countries under the guidance of communism.”
“We are committed to telling the truth about this ideology and we are going to make sure that people have a very accurate understanding of the human carnage that has resulted from communist regimes throughout history,” Ron DeSantis said at a news conference in Hialeah Gardens.
The governor expressed concern that many universities often portray communism in a positive light, stating,
“My view is we might as well give them the truth when they are in our schools because a lot of these universities will tell them how great communism is, so we are setting the proper foundation.”
The new law will also establish the Institute for Freedom in the Americas at Miami Dade College, which will aim to “preserve the ideals of a free society and promote democracy in the Americas.” The institute will partner with Florida International University’s Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom to offer workshops, conferences and so on.
“Through the institute, both FIU and Miami Dade College will partner to make sure that we preserve democracy in the Americas,” said Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega.
