Consistent with Senate Bill 1108 which passed during the 2021 legislative session, the proposed rule amendment will update the current rule to specify that both an assessment and a course are required to meet the civic literacy ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-10.02413Civic Literacy Competency

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Consistent with Senate Bill 1108 which passed during the 2021 legislative session, the proposed rule amendment will update the current rule to specify that both an assessment and a course are required to meet the civic literacy competency requirements. In addition to the list of currently approved assessments in rule, which are AP Government and Politics: United States, AP United States History and CLEP: American Government, the Florida Civic Literacy Examination will be added as a low-cost option. The amendment also specifies that high school students who take the U.S. Government course and pass the Florida Civic Literacy Examination will have met the postsecondary civic literacy assessment requirement. Additionally, the amendment specifies that students must be provided opportunities to engage synchronously in political discussions. Lastly, the amendment allows credit earned through articulated acceleration mechanisms to count toward the course requirement and the assessment requirement, if the assessment is identified in rule. All FCS institutions will be affected by the rule amendment. The effect of this amendment will require colleges to modify their policies, procedures, advising practices and catalogs regarding the new civic literacy requirements.

SUMMARY: Update the current rule to specify that both an assessment and a course are required to meet the civic literacy competency requirements. In addition to the list of currently approved assessments in rule, which are AP Government and Politics: United States, AP United States History and CLEP: American Government, the Florida Civic Literacy Examination will be added as a low-cost option. The amendment also specifies that high school students who take the U.S. Government course and pass the Florida Civic Literacy Examination will have met the postsecondary civic literacy assessment requirement. Additionally, the amendment specifies that students must be provided opportunities to engage synchronously in political discussions. Lastly, the amendment allows credit earned through articulated acceleration mechanisms to count toward the course requirement and the assessment requirement, if the assessment is identified in rule.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has been prepared by the Agency.

In summary, the rule allows a method for students to meet the civic literacy requirement at no to low cost. Colleges may incur minor costs to update catalogs, advising resources, etc. associated with communicating the new requirements. The adverse impact or regulatory cost, if any, does not exceed, nor would it be expected to exceed, any one of the economic analysis criteria set forth in section 120.541(2)(a), F.S. and should not require legislative ratification.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.02(1), 1007.25(4), F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1003.4282, 1007.25, F.S.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: October 20, 2021, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Caribe Royale Orlando, 8101 World Center Drive, Sierra Ballroom A & B, Orlando, FL 32821.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Mike Sfiropoulos, Ph.D., Director of Academic Affairs, Division of Florida Colleges, [e-mail] or [phone].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

6A-10.02413 Civic Literacy Competency

(1) Prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, first-time-in-college students entering a Florida College System institution between in the 2018-19 to 2020-21 school year, and thereafter must demonstrate competency in civic literacy through one of the following options prior to graduation:

(a) (1) Successfully passing either POSX041 American Government or AMHX020 Introductory Survey Since 1877. Each of the courses must include the following competencies:

1. (a) Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government;

2. (b) An understanding of the United States Constitution and its application;

3. (c) Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government; and

4. (d) An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.

(b) (2) Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments:

Assessment	Standard Score
AP Government and Politics: United States	3
AP United States History	4
CLEP: American Government	50

(2) 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 completing paragraphs (a) and (b) prior to graduation:

(a) 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) Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments:

Assessment	Standard Score
AP Government and Politics: United States	3
AP United States History	4
CLEP: American Government Florida Civic Literacy Examination	50 60

(3) Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, Florida College System institutions must ensure they provide opportunities for students to engage synchronously in political discussions and civil debates with multiple points of view and to master the ability to synthesize information that informs civic decision making.

(4) Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, credit received by examination under Rule 6A-10.024(8), F.A.C., for courses listed in paragraph (2)(a) will count toward meeting the course requirement.

(5) Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, students who earned a passing score on the Florida Civic Literacy Examination while in high school are exempt from the postsecondary civic literacy assessment requirement.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1), 1007.25(4) FS. Law Implemented 1007.25, 1003.4282 FS. History–New 6-19-18,

 

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Mike Sfiropoulos, Ph.D., Director of Academic Affairs, Division of Florida Colleges.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Richard Corcoran, Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: September 15, 2021

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: August 2, 2021