FL S0918

Commissioner of Education must develop minimum criteria for a nonpartisan civic literacy practicum for high school students beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, to be incorporated into the U.S. Government course curriculum

Students participating in the practicum must identify a civic issue affecting their community, research it from multiple perspectives, develop a personal involvement plan, and create a portfolio documenting their experience

Hours spent on practicum activities outside classroom instruction may count toward Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program community service requirements and other academic awards

State Board of Education must annually designate qualifying public schools as "Freedom Schools" based on criteria including integration of civic learning across curricula, teacher-led professional learning communities, and student participation rates in the practicum

Effective date of July 1, 2020