Civic Literacy Requirement
The State of Florida requires that all students graduating from Florida Atlantic University and other institutions in the State University System (SUS), as well as from any Florida College System (FCS) institution, fulfill a Civic Literacy Competency requirement. Beginning in Fall 2018, students entering a Florida public institution as a degree-seeking student for the first time need to demonstrate civic literacy through either taking a certain course or passing an exam. The 2021 Florida Legislature amended the statute and now requires students to complete both a civic literacy course and exam. The 2024 Florida Legislature have now added the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) as the only examination for students entering Fall Term 2024 and thereafter. Thus, there are four cohorts of students currently matriculated at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As shown in Table 1, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.
Table 1: Civic Literacy Requirements by Cohorts of Students
Students Included in Cohort |
Civic Literacy Competency Requirement |
|
Cohort 1 |
Degree-seeking student initially entering the SUS or FCS before Fall 2018 |
None |
Cohort 2 |
Degree-seeking students first entering the SUS or FCS in Fall 2018 - Summers (1 & 2) 2021 |
Complete a course or exam* |
Cohort 3 |
Degree-seeking students first entering the SUS or FCS in Summer 3 2021 and thereafter |
Complete both a course and exam* |
Cohort 4 |
Degree-seeking students first entering the SUS or FCS in Summer 3 2024 and thereafter |
Complete both a course and FCLE exam |
*There are two exceptions for Cohort 2, 3, and 4 students only. High school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) in high school are exempt from the postsecondary exam requirement. They are still required, however, to take the course. Also, certain accelerated mechanisms meet the course requirement (see Table 2).
Table 2: Current Options for Cohorts 2, 3, & 4
Options |
Score |
Cohort 2 |
Cohort 3 |
Cohort 4 |
Courses & Accelerated Mechanisms |
||||
POS 2041 if taken after Fall 2018 (including dual enrollment if taken after fall 2018) |
Passing Grade |
Course |
Course |
Course |
AMH 2010 (including dual enrollment)** |
Passing Grade |
Course** |
Course** |
Course** |
AMH 2020 if taken after Fall 2018 (including dual enrollment if taken after fall 2018) |
Passing Grade |
Course |
Course |
Course |
Advanced Placement Government and Politics: United States Exam |
3 |
Course & Assessment |
Course & Assessment |
Course & Assessment |
Advanced Placement United States History Exam |
4 |
Course & Assessment |
Course & Assessment |
Course & Assessment |
Cambridge AICE History, US History, c. 1840-1990 (A-Level) |
A - E |
Course |
Course |
Course |
IB History: History of the Americas |
5 - 7 |
Course |
Course |
Course |
Additional Assessments |
|
|||
CLEP American Government |
50 |
Course & Assessment |
Course & Assessment |
Course & Assessment |
CLEP History of the U.S. I |
50 |
Course & Assessment** |
Course & Assessment** |
Course & Assessment** |
CLEP History of the U.S. II |
50 |
Course |
Course |
Course |
SUS Civic Literacy Test - Civics (U.S. history and government) with supplemental questions *** |
60 out of 100 |
Assessment |
Assessment |
Assessment |
Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE) |
48 out of 80 |
Assessment |
Assessment |
Assessment |
**If completed Fall 2024 and after
*** FREE workshops to prepare for the SUS Civic Literacy Test - Civics are offered throughout the year through the Center for Learning And Student Success (CLASS). This 3-part workshop series covers the founding of the U.S. and the U.S. Constitution and Amendments, structure of U.S. government, and landmark Supreme Court Cases. For more information on these FREE workshops and for specific dates/times, visit http://dm9f.e21system.com/class/civicliteracy.php.
For any questions, please contact your academic advisor.
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