Registrar
Postsecondary Civics Literacy
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a Florida College System institution or state university in 2018-19 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. Prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, first-time-in-college students entering a Florida College System institution in the 2018-19 school year, and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy through one of the following options prior to graduation:
Successfully passing either POSX041 American Government or AMHX020 Introductory Survey Since 1877. Each of the courses must include the following competencies:
- Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government;
- An understanding of the United States Constitution and its application;
- Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government; and
- An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.
Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments:
| Assessment | Standard Score |
|---|---|
| AP Government and Politics: United States | 3 |
| AP United States History | 4 |
| CLEP: American Government | 50 |
In 2021, the Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a Florida College System or State University System institution in 2021-22 and thereafter to complete a course and an assessment to demonstrate competency in civic literacy.
The amendment also adds a requirement that high school students taking U.S. Government must take a civic literacy assessment and that high school students who pass the civic literacy assessment will be exempt from the civic literacy competency assessment requirement upon matriculating to postsecondary.
Additionally, the amendment specifies that credits earned through authorized acceleration mechanisms in s. 1007.27, F.S., will count toward the civic literacy competency requirement.