Fighting for Florida's Civic Core Curriculum

Email sent to Mr. James Durso, legislative aide to Senator Lee Constantine in 2004 over the state’s elimination of required social studies courses for graduation, by FCSS-FASSS legislative chair Jack Bovee. Thanks in part to information supplied by the FASSS/FCSS legislative committee, Florida had been condemned on the floor of the U.S. Congress – both in the House and Senate – for this action, and the desire of Republican leadership in Tallahassee (Senators Evelyn Lynn and Lee Constantine) to amend the statute by requiring at least one social studies course expose students to ‘instruction regarding democracy and the history and principles of the United States of America’ was deemed insufficient by Florida's Social Studies educators. This plea to Senator Constantine fell upon deaf ears and his amendment passed the Florida Senate Education Committee ‘as is’. It was only when Jack Bovee, legislative chair for FCSS/FASSS at that time, was able to contact Senator Anna Cowin to explain our continued opposition that she agreed to amend the measure in the Educational Appropriations Committee by restoring our three required courses. Once Senator Cowin 'moved' her amendment restoring American History, American Government, World History and Economics as graduation requirements for ALL students, no senator dared cast a vote against it. Florida's traditional 'civics core' of three required courses were once again thus required of all students receiving a Florida diploma. The letter below offers insight into this legislative battle and cites many other problems besetting Florida’s social studies curriculum at that time. Florida's Social Studies educators remain forever indepted for former Senator Anna Cowin for her assistance during this time.

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Dear Mr. Durso:

We spoke last week about the amended language for SB 364 that would require at least one of the three social studies credits for graduation "to include instruction regarding democracy and the history and principles of the United States of America."

The Florida Council for the Social Studies, the Florida Association of Social Studies Supervisors, the Sons of the American Revolution and several other civic minded groups are reviewing the amended language to see what our formal response will be. I believe we will have some remaining concerns with the legislation as amended and I would like to share these with you in the hope the proposed language may be improved.

The new required (1) year credit language above is a reduction of the former (2) credits traditionally required in the past and which remain in force for the majority of students who will undoubtedly remain in the 24 credit track. These two credits are (1) in American History and (.5) each in American Government and Economics.

The new language does not address the former CORE civic education 3 credit mandated program which ALL students had to successfully complete. At the present time, students may graduate without World History, or without American Government or Economics. As a result, Florida no longer has a civic education core of courses required for ALL of its students! Better Algebra – the only course now required for all students in all three graduation tracks – be left as an elective than the state disband what has been traditionally its three credit civic core curriculum. We are moving toward a two tiered educational system, one that prepares all students for mastery of algebraic reasoning, but does NOT require they all have the same exposure to civic knowledge! The present language undercuts what has always been a primary purpose of education since the establishment of our public schools. In light of Florida's rapidly changing demographics, the civic core ought to be maintained, not disbanded. This is a recipe for state and national disaster!

Due to FCAT testing in the areas of MATH, SCIENCE, READING, and WRITING, social studies educators affirm that far less attention is being devoted to civic and historical knowledge, especially at the elementary and middle school levels, than in the past. Students are arriving in high school with far less knowledge and aptitude with regard to civic understanding than they have in the past. To now reinstate only one third of the traditional core will merely serve to exacerbate the problem!

The current language, although an improvement over the 'open to any elective' language passed last year, would still allow 1 credit courses such as Psychology or community service to be substituted for the traditional core curriculum courses. Students excelling in math and science may readily opt for AP Psychology and other, sometimes far less rigorous social studies electives, so that they can devote even more time to the AP math and AP science courses that this new law will allow them to substitute for the former ‘civic core’. As a result, some of our best and brightest students may NOT be receiving an adequate preparation for the only job ALL students will have upon graduation – that of citizen!

Since there is no accountability in any way for what Florida’s students know about our nation’s past or civic knowledge, no end of course assessment or FCAT for any social studies area, it would seem that successful completion of "prescribed civic education' courses would be a desirable feature that ought to be retained. Indeed, we have lots of data on how well our students at every grade level do on math, reading and science assessments. We operate in total darkness, however, with regard to civic knowledge. Better to allow students to complete credit in the traditional civic core by demonstrating proficiency on assessments specifically designed for this purpose, than to allow them to skip out on taking such courses!

The new language may not satisfy the bill recently submitted by Congressman Jim Davis (Tampa) that would seek to deny some federal funds to states that do not require students to complete separate "courses" in American Government and American History. Should his bill be approved, Florida will risk of losing millions of dollars in federal funding.

The fact that districts may opt to increase the graduation requirements and specify the return to a civic core, does not lessen the responsibility of the state for providing ALL students with the opportunity to learn about our government and nation. Quite frankly, since the loss of instructional time at lower levels, and the lack of prior civic knowledge students are bringing into high school, a one credit course is simply not enough time to teach the intricacies of our nation's past heritage, the essential principles of our governmental and economic systems, and to equip them with the knowledge of the history of the world and current global issues to prepare them to act as informed decision makers when they graduate.

Finally, whereas the nation and other states seem to be enhancing their civic education programs and requiring more from students in this area, Florida seems to be retreating from its statewide civic responsibilities. There is currently not even the requirement that a student's performance in social studies be even taken into consideration when that pupil is being promoted from one grade to the next. Nor is there any plan at all to develop an assessment instrument to gauge the civic understanding of our students, whether it would be FCAT like or not. Nor is there the movement to improve the social studies Sunshine State Standards, despite past promises from the Florida Department of Education to do so and two independent audits of the state's educational standards which cite that urgent need. The Shanker Institute study found Florida's civic education standards to be in the worst category among the various states. (see attached)

In short, the state has for many years placed its head in the sand with regard to civic education and the amended language does little to restore the previous core of high school courses which earlier legislators saw fit to describe as the 'minimum' required for high school graduation.
I urge that you review the two reports to the right and discuss these concerns with Senator Constantine at once. Hopefully, the bill may be amended to fully restore our high school civic education program during the next legislative hurdle.

Sincerely,

Jack Bovee,
Legislative Chair, FCSS and FASSS