Governor DeSantis highlights Florida’s new History of Communism education standards
Miami, Florida – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is highlighting the state’s new History of Communism education standards as the 2026-27 school year gets underway, saying the expanded curriculum will give students a more detailed look at the history and consequences of communist governments.
The standards are being described by the governor’s office as the most comprehensive of their kind in the country. The goal, according to state officials, is to help students understand the effects of communist ideology while also developing a greater appreciation for individual rights, constitutional protections and the freedoms available under America’s system of government.
The new standards require Florida students to study the historical impact of communism, including the concentration of government power, restrictions on basic freedoms and the suffering experienced by people living under communist regimes.
“As the new school year gets underway, Florida’s new History of Communism education standards ensure that students receive comprehensive instruction on the historical reality of communism,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Thanks to legislation I signed, all high school students are now required to learn about the damage that this ideology has caused around the world and the experiences of those who suffered under communist regimes. It is our duty to make sure that the next generation understands the truth about communism, so they are less susceptible to the false promises of “socialists” who seek to subvert our way of life in service of a radical and dangerous agenda.”
The state’s approach has developed over several years rather than being introduced all at once.
In 2022, DeSantis signed House Bill 395, which created Victims of Communism Day in Florida. The law also required schools to provide at least 45 minutes of instruction about the history of communist regimes and the suffering associated with them.
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That instruction was to address issues including poverty, famine, forced migration and political violence. Students were also expected to learn about the suppression of fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech and religion.
Two years later, the state expanded the effort. DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1264 in 2024, broadening the requirement so students would receive a more comprehensive education about communism and its effects around the world.
The State Board of Education then approved the new History of Communism standards in November 2025. The standards were subsequently revised to include additional examples that state officials said would help students connect historical lessons with events in the modern world.
Among those additions were the indictment of Raúl Castro and the collapse of the Maduro regime in Venezuela. State officials said the examples are intended to give students real-world context when examining the continuing effects and alleged atrocities associated with communist governments.
Florida Education Commissioner Henry Mack said the curriculum is intended to do more than simply describe historical events. He said studying political oppression, forced migration, famine and restrictions on basic freedoms can help students understand what can happen when government authority becomes concentrated.
“Governor DeSantis has ensured Florida students learn the truth about one of history’s most devastating ideologies and the immense human suffering it has caused around the world,” said Commissioner of Education Henry Mack. “By studying the atrocities committed under communist regimes, including political oppression, forced migration, famine, and the suppression of basic freedoms, students gain a deeper understanding of the consequences of concentrated government power and the loss of individual liberty. Just as importantly, Florida’s History of Communism standards help foster a stronger appreciation for the freedoms, opportunities, and constitutional protections that define the American way of life. An informed understanding of history is essential to preserving liberty, strengthening civic responsibility, and preparing the next generation to safeguard the freedoms we hold dear.”
The administration says the standards are part of Florida’s broader effort to strengthen civic and historical education.
Rather than limiting lessons about communism to a single historical period, the updated curriculum is intended to cover its origins, consequences and influence around the world. Officials also want students to examine the experiences of people who lived under communist regimes and the broader effects of those systems on society.
The governor’s office says the changes will help students better understand the relationship between government power and individual liberty. Officials argue that learning about political systems and their consequences is an important part of preparing students to participate in civic life.
The latest standards also continue a series of education policies promoted by DeSantis during his time as governor. The 2022 legislation established a specific focus on victims of communist regimes, while the 2024 legislation expanded the amount and scope of instruction. The approval of the standards in 2025 moved the initiative into a more detailed curriculum.
With the new school year now underway, Florida is putting that expanded curriculum into practice. State officials say students will have the opportunity to examine both historical events and more recent examples as they learn about communism and its global impact.
DeSantis has framed the effort as a way to make sure young people understand the historical record and recognize the importance of constitutional freedoms. His administration says the standards will strengthen students’ knowledge of history while encouraging civic responsibility and an appreciation for individual liberty.
