The Governor of Florida is proposing changes to the state’s education system to include civic education tests. The tests will be similar to exams taken by immigrants who want to become naturalized citizens.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, during a Naples news conference, highlighted plans to introduce civic exams in high schools. These exams will be similar to tests that immigrants are required to pass in order to become naturalized citizens.
The governor continued by saying the performance of students on civic matters was abysmal in the state based on data from surveys. He continued by saying,
Younger Americans, people who are 25 and under, they lack basic knowledge of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, broader civics … We have to do better.
DeSantis directed the Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to begin the process of instituting the testing requirements for the civic tests. He said they were working on a number of ideas on how to approach these tests.
The need for civic education in Florida
The move comes amid concerns that civic literacy has been in decline nationally. A study done in 2014 showed that only 23 percent of eighth-graders scored a proficient grade in civic literacy. There has not been a major improvement or policy change to address this problem and the literacy levels remain constant to date.
He emphasized the need to learn about US history saying that it was paramount to maintaining a society with shared values. The implementation of the new tests will go a long way in ensuring high schoolers are well equipped with facts about the US.
The move received support from Stephen Masyada, the interim executive director of the Lou Frey Institute of Politics. Stephen said he supported the expansion of civic education in Florida saying there was a need for such a policy to be implemented. He, however, expressed concerns about how this process was to be implemented and how successful it will become.
Desantis indicated that he is committed to bringing history education in classes again. This was one of his core policies he promised to address during the 2018 gubernatorial campaigns in Florida in 2018.
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