Civics Literacy Excellence Initiative (CLEI)

Civics Literacy

Florida is committed to preparing students to become knowledgeable, civically engaged adults who contribute positively to their communities. Students will graduate with a strong foundation in American civics - particularly the principles embodied in the United States Constitution - so they are fully equipped to fulfill the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. On December 10, 2019, Governor Ron DeSantis directed former Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran to implement a new civic literacy requirement for high school students. As a result, updated civics benchmarks and standards were adopted and implemented across kindergarten through grade 12 beginning in the 2023–2024 school year.

Civics and Government Standards

• Civics and Government Standards Grades K-12

Legislation and State Board Rule Information

• Section 1003.41, Florida Statutes, describes the core curricular content to be taught in the state of Florida in grades K-12, including civics and government.
• Section 1003.42, Florida Statutes, outlines the topics that must be taught in Florida’s public schools as part of required instruction. The Florida Department of Education supports districts in fulfilling these requirements through guidance, resources and tools to ensure students receive instruction that promotes civic responsibility, character development, historical understanding and digital safety.

Civic Literacy in Florida Schools

Grades K-5

From Kindergarten through Grade 5, Civics and Government instruction progresses from concrete, personal concepts to deeper constitutional understanding. Students begin by learning about rules, authority figures, patriotism and responsible behavior in their immediate environment. In Grades 1 and 2, they expand to understanding rights and responsibilities, why governments are formed and how the U.S. Constitution protects liberty within a constitutional republic. By Grade 3, students examine the structure of government, consent of the governed and the importance of voting and civic virtue. Grade 4 focuses on Florida’s Constitution, state government structure and how citizens engage with local and state officials. In Grade 5, students analyze the nation’s founding documents, representative government, constitutional limits on power and the expansion of civic participation, culminating in a comprehensive understanding of American constitutional democracy.

Grades 6-8

In order for a student to be promoted to high school from a school that includes middle grades 6, 7, and 8, the student must successfully complete a one-semester civics education course that includes the roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments; the structures and functions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government; and the meaning and significance of historic documents, such as the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States. Each student’s performance on the statewide, standardized end-of-course assessment in civics education constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade.

• Civics End of Course Assessment Resources
  • Civics End-of-Course Assessment Achievement Level Descriptions (PDF)
  • Civics Reporting Category Statements (PDF)
  • Test Design Summary and Blueprint: State Academic Standards for Social Studies (PDF)
  • 2025-26 Science and Social Studies EOC Assessments Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Florida's Statewide Grades 3-10 and EOC CAT FAQ (PDF)
  • Civics EOC Assessment Spring 2024 Released Test Items (PDF)
  • 2024 Test Release Support Document – Answer Keys (PDF)

Grades 9-12

Requirements for the receipt of a standard high school diploma include one credit in United States History and one-half credit in United States Government. Students enrolled in a United States Government course are required to participate in the Florida Civic Literacy Exam, per section 1003.4282(3)(d), F.S.: Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, students taking the United States Government course are required to take the assessment of civic literacy identified by the State Board of Education pursuant to s. 1007.25(5). Students earning a passing score on the assessment are exempt from the postsecondary civic literacy assessment required by s. 1007.25(5).. See the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE) website for more information.

Postsecondary Civic Literacy

Students initially entering a Florida College System institution or state university in 2018-19 and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy. See the Postsecondary Civic Literacy page for more information. Civic literacy competencies and outcomes include:

• An understanding of the basic principles of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government.
• An understanding of the United States Constitution.
• Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-governance.
• An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases and their impact on law and society.