Overview

Civic Literacy Requirement

The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. 

This requirement is based on the student’s catalog year; therefore, the Civic Literacy requirement does not apply to students who initially entered the Florida State University System (SUS) or Florida College System (FCS) before fall 2018.

The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated 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.

Additional information can be found at uwf.edu/civicliteracy and on the Civic Literacy Implementation and Guidance Document. 

Table 1. Civic Literacy Requirements by Cohort of Students

Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.

There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. You should work with your academic advisor to determine which option is best for your degree requirements/degree plan. Remember that students entering for the first time in Summer 2021 or after must complete both a course AND exam. 

(a) To satisfy Course Competency: Successfully passing either POSX041 American Government or AMHX020 Introductory Survey Since 1877. Each of the courses must include the following competencies:

1. Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government;
2. An understanding of the United States Constitution and its application;
3. Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government; and
4. An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.

(b) To Satisfy Exam Competency: Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments:

Table 2: Methods for Meeting Exam Competency

(c) Successfully passing an accelerated mechanism to satisfy either the Course or Exam Competency - or Both

Table 3: Accelerated Mechanisms for Meeting Course/Exam competencies.

Note that Cambridge AICE History, US History, c.1789-1917 (AS-Level) and IB History: History of America do NOT meet the exam requirement.

Instructions for the Civic Literacy Exam

The FCLE exam will be available on defined Testing dates effective Summer 2022 and beyond. More information will be available soon once dates are scheduled.