State Board Rule 6A-1.09411 – K-12 Civic Education Curriculum

Effective November 23, 2021

This rule sets forth the requirements for an integrated civic education curriculum for school districts and charter schools to utilize for grades K-12.

https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ruleNo.asp?id=6A-1.09411

6A-1.09411 K-12 Civic Education Curriculum.

(1) It is the intent of the State Board of Education that high school graduates have sufficient knowledge of United States civics and government, particularly the principles reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, so as to be capable of discharging the responsibilities associated with American citizenship.

(2) To help families, civic institutions, local communities, district school boards, and charter schools prepare students to be civically responsible and knowledgeable adults, the requirements for an integrated civic education curriculum that school districts and charter schools utilize for grades K through 12 are as follows:

(a) Using the social studies standards adopted in Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C., Student Performance Standards, the instruction and curriculum for integrated civics education must advance student content knowledge and skills each year as developmentally appropriate.

(b) Curriculum and instruction must comply with the efficient and faithful teaching of the required topics and must be consistent with the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards and the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards, per Rule 6A-1.094124, F.A.C., Required Instruction Planning and Reporting.

(3) The integrated civic education curriculum must assist students in developing:

(a) An understanding of their shared rights and responsibilities as residents of the state and of the founding principles of the United States, and must include the following topics:

1. A review of select colonial American charters, compacts, and laws that preceded and influenced the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

2. The history and content of the Declaration of Independence, including national sovereignty, natural law, self-evident truths, equality of all persons, limited government, consent of the governed, right of resistance, popular sovereignty, and the divine source of inalienable rights of life, liberty, and property, and how those rights form the philosophical foundation of our government.

3. The history, meaning, significance, and effect of the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and amendments thereto, with emphasis on each of the ten (10) amendments that make up the Bill of Rights, and how the Constitution provides the structure of our government.

4. The arguments in support of adopting our republican form of government, as they are embodied in the most important of the Federalist Papers.

(b) A sense of civic pride and desire to participate regularly with government at the local, state, and federal levels.

(c) An understanding of the process for effectively advocating before government bodies and officials.

(d) An understanding of the civic-minded expectations of an upright and desirable citizenry that recognizes and accepts responsibility for preserving and defending the blessings of liberty inherited from prior generations and secured by the United States Constitution. An upright and desirable citizen:

1. Has a thorough knowledge of America’s founding principles and documents, and is equipped to apply this knowledge.

2. Demonstrates civic virtue and self-government that promotes the success of the United States constitutional republic through personal responsibility, civility, and respect in political, social, and religious discourse and lawful civic engagement.

3. Respects the military, elected officials, civic leaders, public servants, and all those who have defended the blessings of liberty in pursuit of the common good, even at personal risk.

4. Understands the United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other amendments in their historical context; defends the core values of these documents and the principles that shaped them.

5. Recognizes how political ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism, conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy essential to preserving the United States constitutional republic.

6. Appreciates the price paid by previous generations to secure the blessings of liberty and why it is the responsibility of current and future generations to preserve it.