Tag: florida civics and debate initiative

The funding will be used to create and award qualified teachers with the Florida Civics Seal of Excellence, which includes a $3,000 bonus for educators who complete training to earn the endorsement. The funding will also be used for Florida’s civics curriculum and to expedite the implementation of Florida’s B.E.S.T. Standards in Florida’s K-12 public schools.

DeSantis brought out the “Civic Literacy Excellence Initiative” and is calling for $106 million from the Legislature to enact it. The governor wants to use funds from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund included in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation (CRRSA) Act.

At the end of last week, state Rep. Adrian Zika, R-Land O’Lakes, introduced the “Portraits in Patriotism Act" with the backing of state House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor.

At the end of January, DeSantis announced the Marcus Foundation agreed to send $5 million to the FCDI “to elevate civic knowledge, civic skills and civic disposition for middle and high school students through speech and debate.”

The Marcus Foundation has committed $5 million over a three-year period to the Florida Education Foundation to increase students’ access to speech and debate programs. To show support for this initiative the governor has requested $375,000 in his budget proposal to advance this civics and debate initiative.