HB 1037 - Civic Education Summary

• Beginning with students entering grade 9 in 2020-2021, replaces standard "United States Government" requirement with "United States Government and Civic Engagement" course that includes a nonpartisan civic literacy project as a laboratory component.

• Establishes the Florida Seal of Civic Engagement Program to recognize high school graduates with community involvement and academic achievement in civics, requiring a "B" or higher in the civic engagement course plus community service and additional civics coursework.

• Creates nonpartisan civic literacy projects requiring students to identify community civic issues, research from multiple perspectives, develop involvement plans, and create portfolios to evaluate outcomes; hours may count toward graduation and Bright Futures scholarship community service requirements.

• Designates schools meeting specified criteria as "Democracy Schools" annually, recognizing schools that integrate high-quality civic learning across curricula; Democracy Schools receive weighted calculation benefits in school grading system.

• Allows earning the Seal of Civic Engagement to demonstrate civic literacy competency for college entrance requirements beginning in 2020-2021; effective July 1, 2019.