Students seeking an Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degree (A) who have no prior college credit and initially enter an FCS institution as a first-time-in-college student in Fall 2018 through Summer 2021 (or B) who begin dual enrollment in Fall of 2018 through Summer 2021 (or C) who have an MDC requirement term of Fall 2021 and beyond.
Students seeking an Associate in Science (A.S.)/Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree who have an MDC requirement term of Fall 2022 and beyond.
Students who have earned college credit prior to Fall 2018 with an MDC requirement term prior to Fall 2018 (or) Students who were in dual enrollment prior to Fall 2018 with an MDC requirement term prior to Fall 2018 (or) A.S./A.A.S. degree students with an MDC requirement term prior to Fall 2022.
The new civic literacy requirement applies to students who are entering into A.A. and baccalaureate programs under the 2021-2022 catalog year and beyond or A.S./A.A.S. degree students under the 2022-2023 catalog year and beyond, regardless of prior postsecondary coursework. This includes formerly dual enrolled students.
Yes. A student seeking an AA, A.S./A.A.S., or baccalaureate will have to demonstrate competency prior to being awarded a degree.
No. Career and Technical Certificates (also known as College Credit Certificates).
No. This requirement does not apply to students who have college credits and a requirement term at MDC prior to Fall 2018. These students must have continuously enrolled at MDC since Summer 2018 or earlier.
No. The rule that is applicable for 2018-19 to 2020-2021 specified the requirement was limited to FTIC students. Since the statute does not specify the civic literacy requirements are limited to that small population, the FTIC language was removed for 2021-22 students and beyond. This ensures students who are entering under 2021-22 catalog years will meet the statutory intent to demonstrate civic literacy competency.
The new civic literacy requirement applies to students who are entering into A.A. and baccalaureate programs under the 2021-2022 catalog year and beyond or A.S./A.A.S. degree students under the 2022-2023 catalog year and beyond, regardless of prior postsecondary coursework. This includes transfer students and students entering with prior postsecondary coursework. Students who have previously achieved a passing score on an approved assessment or passed an approved course will have met the assessment requirement or coursework requirement, respectively, and will not need to re-take assessments or courses.
The new civic literacy requirement applies to students who are entering into A.A. and baccalaureate programs under the 2021-2022 catalog year and beyond or A.S./A.A.S. degree students under the 2022-2023 catalog year and beyond, regardless of prior postsecondary coursework. This includes students from out-of-state.
Baccalaureate students under the 2021-2022 catalog year and beyond are required to meet the civics course and assessment requirement. If the student previously demonstrated civic literacy competency based on the previous civic literacy requirement through a course or an assessment under their associate degree program, those passed courses or passing scores could also be used toward demonstration of civic literacy competency for baccalaureate completion. The student would then just need to fulfill the other requirement via an assessment or course.
The statute/rule do not indicate this applies to the student's first baccalaureate degree. Any student seeking an FCS baccalaureate degree with a catalog year of 2021-2022 and beyond is required to demonstrate competency by meeting the course and assessment requirement.
Scenario 1: Attended prior to Fall 2018 - Didn’t take AMH 2020 or POS 2041
Scenario 2: Attended since Fall 2018 - Satisfied course or assessment only or Didn’t satisfy either course or assessment
Students under catalog years 2018-2019 through 2020-2021 are only required to complete the approved course or assessment. If a student is in catalog year 2021-2022 and beyond, that student is required to complete the approved course and pass an approved assessment.
No. Students who pass the FCLE will still be required to pass an approved course once they enter MDC. Note: MDC will use the FASTER system to electronically receive FCLE scores from other institutions. Submit a Test Entry Request Form for requesting to have a test record entered in the MDC student record keeping system.
Credit received for courses in Rule 6A-10.02413, F.A.C., (AMH 2020 and POS 2041) via credit-by-exam will count toward the course requirement. If the exam used as the basis of awarding of credit is in Rule 6A-10.02413, F.A.C., (e.g., AP and CLEP) the student would be considered as having met both the course and the assessment civic literacy competency. If the exam used as the basis of awarding of credit is not in rule (e.g., AICE and IB), the student would be considered as having met only the course requirement. These students would need to be assessed using an approved assessment in rule.
The rule does not specify expiration dates of test scores. Scores do not expire.
Yes. Completion of AMH 2020 or POS 2041 only fulfills the course requirement for postsecondary civic literacy competency for students entering the FCS under the 2021-22 catalog year and thereafter.
No. Because final exams in courses are not approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE), they do not count toward the assessment requirement. These students would still be required to pass an approved assessment in Rule 6A-10.02413, F.A.C.
Test items for the FCLE are based on competencies that describe the content to be covered by a test.
FCLE competencies cover the knowledge necessary to demonstrate the postsecondary requirement for civic literacy, as outlined in statute:
- Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government.
- An understanding of the United States Constitution and its application.
- Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government.
- An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.
Approximately 80 test items appear on the FCLE that was implemented on October 25, 2021. Note: The previous versions that was administered in the high schools during school years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, and in the state university system from 2018 through 2021 included 100 questions.
The passing score is 60 percent, which is 48 correct out of 80. Note: The passing score for the FCLE that was administered in the high schools during school years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, and in the state university system from 2018 through 2021 is also 60 percent (60 correct out of 100).
To test for the first time, students must be enrolled in either AMH 2020 or POS 2041 or previously received a letter grade. Department Chair approval is required after the second attempt. Submit a FCLE Retake Request Form.
Yes. See civic literacy resources below. Basic information for Fall 2021 and more robust resources in Spring 2022. Click here for FLDOE Resources to Foster Civic Literacy.
Accommodations will be available for the Florida Civic Literacy Test, some beginning in Fall 2021 with more available in Spring 2022.
Please Note: This information is provided by the FDOE Supplemental Guide for the Florida Civic Literacy Exam