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://cqx.31totsuka.com/class/civicliteracy.php

For any questions, please contact your academic advisor.

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