Florida education department seeks input on civics standards

Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed to change the curriculum since before he was elected.

Tampa Bay Times | Jeffrey S. Solochek | Published 6/8/20

Since before he was elected, Gov. Ron DeSantis has contended that Floridians don’t know enough about civics and the constitution.

He’s pushed to change the way they’re taught in the state’s classrooms.

The concept appeared in an executive order early in his tenure, in which he stated that high school graduates should have “sufficient knowledge of America’s civics, particularly the principles reflected in the Unites States Constitution, so as to be capable of discharging the responsibilities associated with American citizenship.”

A year ago, state lawmakers agreed to give the issue an extra push. They signed legislation calling for a review of the civics standards, with any proposal due by the end of 2020.

Now the draft is ready for public input. The Department of Education is accepting comments through Aug. 5.

To learn more about the recommendations, the department also will hold a webinar at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. You can register here to participate.Review the standards and submit your comments here