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Civic Literacy Competency

Civic Literacy Competency

About the requirement

With the passage of Senate Bill 1108, the Florida legislature modified civic literacy graduation requirements for Florida College System and State University System students.

Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, specifies that “beginning with students initially entering a Florida College System institution or state university in the 2021-2022 school year and thereafter, each student must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by achieving a passing score on an assessment and by successfully completing a civic literacy course. Credits earned for such courses via articulated acceleration mechanisms in s. 1007.27 will count toward the civic literacy competency requirement.”

Rule 6A-10.02413, Florida Administrative Code, further specifies that “prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, students initially entering a Florida College System institution in the 2021-22 school year, and thereafter, must demonstrate competency in civic literacy” by achieving a passing score on an approved assessment and by successfully completing a civic literacy course. Additionally, “prior to the award of an associate in science or associate in applied science degree, students initially entering a Florida College System institution in the 2022-23 school year, and thereafter, must demonstrate competency in civic literacy” by achieving a passing score on an approved assessment and by successfully completing a civic literacy course.

The approved assessments and passing scores appear below:

Assessment

Standard Score

AP Government and Politics: United States

3

AP United States History

4

CLEP: American Government

50

CLEP: History of the United States I50
Florida Civic Literacy Examination
60%

If the exam being used as the basis of awarding credit is not listed in rule (e.g., AICE and IB), the student would be considered as having met only the course requirement. The student would need to be assessed with an exam approved in rule.

In addition, the approved civic literacy courses include the following:

  • AMH 2010: United States History to 1877
  • AMH 2020: United States History from 1877 to the Present
  • POS 2041: American Federal Government

Who Needs to Fulfill the Civic Literacy Competency?

A.A. and Baccalaureate students entering an FCS or SUS institution under the 2018-19 catalog year must fulfill the requirement by passing an approved civic literacy course “OR” approved exam. A.A. and Baccalaureate students entering an FCS or SUS institution under the 2021-22 catalog year and A.S. or A.A.S. students entering an FCS or SUS institution under the 2022-23 catalog year must fulfill the requirement by passing an approved civic literacy course “AND” approved exam.

Complete the Civic Literacy Competency Questionnaire below if you are unsure if this requirement applies to you.

Civic Literacy Competency Questionnaire

Testing Resources

Advanced Placement Courses and Resources

CLEP Resources

“CLEP American Government” and “CLEP History of the United States I” are available at the Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) test centers.

Catalog Descriptions for Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Civic Literacy Courses

AMH 2010: United States History to 1877 (3 credit hours): This course examines the development of the United States from its colonial origins to the end of Reconstruction.

AMH 2020: United States History from 1877 to the Present (3 credit hours): This course includes the growth of big business, the Agrarian Revolt, Latin American affairs, the progressive movement, the 1920s, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, minority rights, and civil liberties.

POS 2041: American Federal Government (3 credit hours): This course surveys the background, constitutional principles, organizations, and operation of the American political system. Topics include the U.S. Constitution, federalism, civil liberties, civil rights, political parties, interest groups, political campaigns, voting rights/behavior, elections, the presidency, bureaucracy, Congress, and the American judicial system. On completion, students should be able to identify and explain relationships among the basic elements of American government and function as more informed participants of the American political system.

FAQs

Catalog Year
Student Type
Degree Type
Requirement

2018-19 through 2020-21

First-time-in-college students

 A.A., Baccalaureate
Pass a course OR pass an assessment.

2021-2022

Students entering FCS under the 2021-22 catalog year

A.A., Baccalaureate

Pass a course AND pass an assessment.

2022-2023*

Students entering FCS under the 2022-23 catalog year

Associate in Science (A.S.), Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)
Pass a course AND pass an assessment.

This group of students should request that their high school send the final transcript via FASTER for FSCJ to acknowledge their successful completion of the civic literacy exam. (Please note that the College will not be able to evaluate students’ paper transcripts for fulfillment of the civic literacy requirement.)

The postsecondary FASTER transcript will be updated to reflect if a student met the course requirement and assessment requirement.

Yes, effective in the 2021-2022 academic year, a student seeking an A.A. or baccalaureate will have to demonstrate competency prior to being awarded a degree. Effective in the 2022-2023 academic year, a student seeking an A.S. or A.A.S. will have to demonstrate competency prior to being awarded a degree.

For more information, please review the Frequently Asked Questions document, prepared by the Florida Department of Education Frequently Asked Questions.  

Civic Literacy Resources

Below are resources to help students prepare for the Florida Civic Literacy Exam.

FLDOE-Developed FCLE Supplemental Guide and Sample Test

The purpose of these sample test materials is to orient faculty and students to the nature of the test content and test questions on the FCLE. The content included in the Supplemental Guide is not intended to replace associated coursework or other preparation methods required to demonstrate civic literacy, as described in Florida Statute. The sample questions and answers are not intended to demonstrate the length of the actual test. Student performance on the sample test should not be used as a predictor of performance on the actual test, and neither the sample test nor the supplemental guide should be used to guide classroom instruction.

Online FCLE Sample Test

Access the online FCLE sample test here. The sample test is not scored. To access the correct answers to the sample items, see the FCLE sample items document on the FLDOE FCLE webpage.

Additional resources are available via the FLDOE Civic Literacy webpage and the links below.

Florida Civic Literacy Library Guide

For additional resources to help you prepare for the Florida Civic Literacy Exam, please view the library guide developed by FSCJ librarians.

Questions?

For questions about the civic literacy graduation requirement, please contact your academic advisor.