By Kathleen Haughney
The News Service of Florida
Middle schoolers across Florida would face a mandatory civics exam under legislation approved by a Senate committee Tuesday.
The bill (SB 1096), sponsored by Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, would require that all sixth grade students take a year-long civics class that would end with a state exam. Specifically, the goal is to ensure students understand the three branches of government, historic documents such as the Constitution, and other items related to government.
Schools are already required to teach civics according to Florida law, but there are no exams on the material, causing Detert to note “what isn’t tested isn’t taught.” The testing component would be phased in gradually under the legislation.
“Most of the content is already there in the Florida state statutes,” Detert said. “But those of us who are business owners who hire our graduates know that civics is somehow slipping through the cracks.”
The proposal has been championed over the last few years by Rep. Charles McBurney, R-Jacksonville, who watched the Senate committee vote and again is sponsoring the House version. Last year, when McBurney’s bill failed to get a committee vote, he amended it onto several budget bills.
The amendments did not survive in the Senate, where debate broke out about the costs associated with the end-of-course exam. The fiscal impact of the bill could also kill its chances this year as the state is currently facing a $3 billion shortfall.
According to current legislative analysis, the estimated fiscal impact of adding one examination for one grade level statewide is $1.5 million.
Sen. Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, who chairs the public schools budget committee and pushed for the bill last year, said that Detert and McBurney may again run into trouble because of the costs of the exam. He is suggesting holding off on statewide testing for a few years in the event that the money is not there to pay for the changes under Detert’s bill.
“I do not want you to lose this bill,” he said.
The legislation is being supported by several groups, including the Florida League of Cities and civics education groups. The House companion bill earlier unanimously passed out of the House Pre-K-12 Education Policy Committee and is now on the Education Policy Council agenda in the House on Wednesday.
