Title: Civic Literacy

Summary: Designates month of September annually as "American Founders' Month"; revises priorities of Florida's K-20 education system & duties of Just Read, Florida! Office; encourages public schools to coordinate certain instruction with American Founders' Month; requires postsecondary students to demonstrate competency in civic literacy & provides requirements therefor; provides for appointment of faculty committee; requires committee to develop or revise certain courses & establish specified course competencies.

Full Text:
An act relating to civic literacy; creating s. 683.1455, F.S.; designating the month of September annually as "American Founders' Month"; authorizing the Governor to annually issue a proclamation containing specified information; amending s. 1000.03, F.S.; revising the priorities of Florida's K7 education system to include civic literacy; amending s. 1001.215, F.S.; revising the duties of the Just Read, Florida! Office to include developing and providing access to certain resources for elementary schools; amending s. 1003.44, F.S.; encouraging public schools to coordinate certain instruction with American Founders' Month; amending s. 1007.25, F.S.; requiring postsecondary students to demonstrate competency in civic literacy and providing requirements therefor; providing for the appointment of a faculty committee; requiring the committee to develop or revise certain courses and establish specified course competencies; amending ss. 943.22 and 1001.64, F.S.; conforming cross-references; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: CS/CS/HB 7057 2017 Section 1. Section 683.1455, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 683.1455 American Founders' Month.-(1) The month of September of each year is designated as "American Founders' Month." (2) The Governor may annually issue a proclamation designating the month of September as "American Founders' Month" and urging all civic, fraternal, and religious organizations and public and private educational institutions to recognize and observe this occasion through appropriate programs, meetings, services, or celebrations in which state, county, and local governmental officials are inv ited to participate. Section 2. Paragraphs (c) through (g) of subsection (5) of section 1000.03, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs (d) through (h), respectively, and a new paragraph (c) is added to that subsection to read: 1000.03 Func tion, mission, and goals of the Florida K42 education system.-(5) The priorities of Florida's Keducation system include: (c) Civic literacy.-Students are prepared to become civically engaged and knowledgeable adults who make positive contribution sto their communities. Section 3. Subsections (4) through (11) of section 1001.215, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5) CS/CS/HB 7057 2017 through (12), respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to that section to read: 1001.215 Just Read, Florid a! Office.-There is created in the Department of Education the Just Read, Florida! Office. The office shall be fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education and shall: (4) Develop and provide access to sequenced, content-rich curriculum programming, instructional practices, and resources that help elementary schools use state-adopted instructional materials to increase students' background knowledge and literacy skills, including student attainment of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for social studies, science, and the arts. Section 4. Subsection (3) is added to section 1003.44, Florida Statutes, to read: 1003.44 Patriotic programs; rules.-(3) All public schools in the state, including charter schools, are encouraged to coordinat e, at all grade levels, instruction related to our nation's founding fathers with "American Founders' Month" pursuant to s. 683.1455. Section 5. Subsections (4) through (11) of section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5) through (12), respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to that section to read: 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites; CS/CS/HB 7057 2017 other degree requirements.-(4) Beginning with students initially entering a Florida College System institution or state university in the 2018-2019 school year and thereafter, each student must demonstrate competency in civic literacy. Students must have the option to demonstrate competency through successful completion of a civic literacy course or by achieving a passing score on an assessment. The State Board of Education must adopt in rule and the Board of Governors must adopt in regulation at least one existing assessment that measures competencies consistent with the required course competencies outlined in paragraph (b). The chair of the State Board of Education and the chair of the Board of Governors, or their respective designees, shall jointly appoint a faculty committee to: (a) Develop a new course in civic literacy or revise an existing general education core course in American History or American Government to include civic literacy. (b) Establish course competencies and identify outcomes that include, at a minimum, an understanding of the basic principles of American democra cy 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, and an under standing of landmark Supreme Court cases and their impact on law and society. CS/CS/HB 7057 2017 Section 6. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 943.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 943.22 Salary incentive program for full-time officers.-(1) For the purpose of this section, the term: (c) "Community college degree or equivalent" means graduation from an accredited community college or having been granted a degree pursuant to s. 1007.25(11) s. 1007.25(10) or successful completion of semester hours or quarter hours and eligibility to receive an associate degree from an accredited college, university, or community college. Section 7. Subsection (7) and paragraph (d) of subsection (8) of section 1001.64, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1001.64 Florida College System institution boards of trustees; powers and duties.-(7) Each board of trustees has responsibility for: ensuring that students have access to general education courses as identified in rule; requiring no more than semester hours of degree program coursework, including semester hours of general education coursework, for an associate in arts degree; notifying students that earned hours in excess of semester hours may not be accepted by state universities; notifying students of unique program prerequisites; and ensuring that degree program coursework beyond general education coursework is consistent with degree program prerequisite requirements adopted pursuant to s. 1007.25(6) s. 1007.25(5). CS/CS/HB 7057 2017 (8) Each board of trustees has authority for policies related to students, enrollment of students, student records, student activities, financial assistance, and other student services. (d) Boards of trustees shall identify their general education curricula pursuant to s. 1007.25( 7) s. 1007.25(6).Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.