State Required Mental and Emotional Health Education
6A-1.094121 Mental and Emotional Health Education
(1) School districts must annually provide a minimum of five (5) hours of instruction to students in grades 6-12 related to youth mental health awareness and assistance, including suicide prevention and the impacts of substance abuse.
(2) Using the health education standards adopted in rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C., Student Performance Standards, the instruction for youth mental and emotional health will advance each year through developmentally appropriate instruction and skill building and must address, at a minimum, the following topics:
(a) Recognition of signs and symptoms of mental health disorders;
(b) Prevention of mental health disorders;
(c) Mental health awareness and assistance;
(d) How to reduce the stigma around mental health disorders;
(e) Awareness of resources, including local school and community resources;
(f) The process for accessing treatment;
(g) Strategies to develop healthy coping techniques;
(h) Strategies to support a peer, friend, or family member with a mental health disorder;
(i) Prevention of suicide; and
(j) Prevention of the abuse of and addiction to alcohol, nicotine, and drugs.
(3) By December 1 of each year, each school district must submit an implementation plan to the commissioner at MentalHealthEducation@fldoe.org and post the plan on the school district website. The implementation plan must include:
(a) The specific courses in which instruction will be delivered for each grade level;
(b) The professional qualifications of the person delivering instruction; and
(c) A description of the materials and resources utilized to deliver instruction.
(4) By July 1 of each year, each school district must submit an annual report to the commissioner at MentalHealthEducation@fldoe.org. The report must verify completion of the instruction and include:
(a) The specific courses in which instruction will be delivered for each grade level;
(b) The professional qualifications of the person delivering instruction; and
(c) A description of the materials and resources utilized to deliver instruction.
(5) Failure to comply with the requirements of this rule may result in the imposition of sanctions described in section 1008.32, F.S.
Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(2)(n), 1003.42 F.S. Law Implemented 1003.42 FS. History–New 8-20-19.