FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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S
TATE B
OARD OF EDUCATION
Memb
ers
DR. AK
SHAY DESAI
MAR
K KAPLAN
R
OBERTO MARTÍNEZ
JOHN R. P
ADGET
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
Dr. Eric J. Smith
Commissioner of Education
Contact Information
Susan Watt
Phone: (850) 245-0766
Email: Susan.Watt@fldoe.org
DPS: 2011-56
MEMORANDUM
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Dr.
Frances Haithcock
DATE:
May 13, 2011
SUBJECT: Civics Education Content in K-12 English Language Arts Curriculum
Senate Bill 1096, the
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Civics Education Act
, passed by the 2010 Florida
Legislature includes revisions to section
1003.41, Florida Statutes
, relating to civics education within
English language arts classes. Specifically, this legislation states that
beginning with the 2011-2012
curriculum shall include civics education content
for all grade levels.
The intent of this new legislation is that selected civics benchmarks be taught in the
English language arts curriculum, not separately, but naturally woven in to fit whatever reading topics are
taking place in the classroom.
In order for educators to prepare for this change in English language arts curriculum, the Florida
Legislature provided initial funding to the Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida, in
partnership with the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship. In January 2011, The Lou Frey Institute
convened a committee of English langua
adopted language arts instructional materials that
already contain civics content, as well as where gaps
exist.
After judicious research, approximately three civics benchmarks per grade level have been delineated to
be included in the English language arts curriculum. Each of these civics benchmarks has been aligned to
a language arts benchmark that seems a natural fit. This alignment of civics and language arts
benchmarks is provided as a suggestion only. Each selected grade-level civics benchmark may be aligned
to any other applicable English language arts benchmark at the corresponding grade.
DR. FRANCES HAITHCOCK
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CHANCELLOR OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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325 W. GAINES STREET •SUITE 1502 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
May 13, 2011
Page 2
The grades K through 12 civics education content benchmarks have been added to the
Remarks and
Examples
section
of the Next Generation Sunshine State English language arts course descriptions located
on the standards database at www.floridastandards.org. The grades K through 12 civics and language arts
benchmark alignment is listed in
Attachment A.
Additional resources for classroom implementation of this new civics legislation are anticipated for
completion for use during the 2011-12 school year. For additional information, please contact Susan
Watt, Language Arts Curriculum Specialist, at (850) 245-0766, or via email at Susan.Watt@fldoe.org.
FH/sw
Attachment
cc:
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Assistant Superintendents for Curriculum
English Language Arts Supervisors
Reading Supervisors
Social Studies Supervisors
School Principals
