Civic Literacy Competency - Testing and Assessment (2023)

Attention: The FCLE will not be available from July 30, 2022 through August 8, 2022 due to annual maintenance by the exam vendor.

Students are strongly encouraged to fulfill this requirement before the end of their first year.

Who needs to take the FCLE?Click hereto help you determine who needs to complete this graduation requirement.

Requirements 2018-2019 through 2020-2021

Prior to the award of an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree, first-time-in-college students entering a Florida College System (FCS) or State University System (SUS) institution in the 2018-2019 academic school year and thereafter, must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by the time they graduate pursuant to s. 1007.25(4), Florida Statutes. Students have the option to demonstrate competency through successful completion of a civic literacy course or by achieving a passing score on an assessment.

Rule 6A-10.02413 of the State Board of Education defines civic literacy competency as follows:

(1) Successfully passing either POS 2041 American Government or AMH 2020 History of the United States since 1877.
(2) Achieving the standard score on one of the following assessments:

* Students seeking an Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degree initially entering FCS under 2021-2022 catalog year and beyond or with an MDC requirement term of Fall 2021 and beyond.

*On March 30, 2022 the Florida Board of Education added the civic literacy requirement as a condition of A.S./A.A.S. degree completion to coincide with general education changes from House Bill 1507, which will be effective with the 2022-23 catalog year.

Questions and Answers

• Who is required to meet the Civic Literacy Competency requirement?
  • Students seeking an Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degree:
    • who have no prior college credit and initially enter an FCS institution as a first-time-in-college student in Fall 2018 through Summer 2021.
    • who begin dual enrollment inFall of 2018 through Summer 2021
    • who have an MDC requirement term of Fall 2021 and beyond.
  • Students seeking an Associate in Science (A.S.)/Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree:
    • who have an MDC requirement term of Fall 2022 and beyond.

• Who is exempt from meeting the Civic Literacy Competency requirement during catalog years 2018-2019 through 2020-2021?
  • Students who have earnedcollege creditprior toFall 2018 with an MDC requirement term prior to Fall 2018.
  • Students who were in dual enrollment prior to Fall 2018 with an MDC requirement term prior to Fall 2018.
  • A.S./A.A.S. degree students with an MDC requirement term prior to Fall 2022.
    
• How does the amended rule apply to students who were previously dual enrolled?
  The new civic literacy requirement applies to students who are entering into A.A. and baccalaureate programs under the 2021-2022 catalog year and beyond or A.S./A.A.S. degree students under the 2022-2023 catalog year and beyond, regardless of prior postsecondary coursework. This includes formerly dual enrolled students.
  

• Is Civic Literacy a graduation requirement?
  Yes. A student seeking an AA, A.S./A.A.S., or baccalaureate will have to demonstrate competency prior to being awarded a degree.
  
• Is Civic Literacy Competency a graduation requirement for all academic programs?
  No. Career and Technical Certificates (also known as College Credit Certificates).
  
• Does the Civic Literacy Competency graduation requirement apply to students who earned college credits prior to Fall 2018?
  No. This requirement does not apply to students who have college credits and a requirement term at MDC prior to Fall 2018, unless students apply to a new program. These students must have continuously enrolled at MDC since Summer 2018 or earlier..
  
• Does “initially entering” mean the same thing as first-time-in-college (FTIC)?
  No. The rule that is applicable for 2018-19 to 2020-2021 specified the requirement was limited to FTIC students. Since the statute does not specify the civic literacy requirements are limited to that small population, the FTIC language was removed for 2021-22 students and beyond. This ensures students who are entering under 2021-22 catalog years will meet the statutory intent to demonstrate civic literacy competency.
  
• How does the amended rule apply to transfer students?
  The new civic literacy requirement applies to students who are entering into A.A. and baccalaureate programs under the 2021-2022 catalog year and beyond or A.S./A.A.S. degree students under the 2022-2023 catalog year and beyond, regardless of prior postsecondary coursework. This includes transfer students and students entering with prior postsecondary coursework. Students who have previously achieved a passing score on an approved assessment or passed an approved course will have met the assessment requirement or coursework requirement, respectively, and will not need to re-take assessments or courses.
  
• How the amended rule apply to out-of-state students?
  The new civic literacy requirement applies to students who are entering into A.A. and baccalaureate programs under the 2021-2022 catalog year and beyond or A.S./A.A.S. degree students under the 2022-2023 catalog year and beyond, regardless of prior postsecondary coursework. This includes students from out-of-state.
  
• How does the amended rule apply to baccalaureate students who are entering with an A.A. or A.S./A.A.S. degree?
  Baccalaureate students under the 2021-2022 catalog year and beyond are required to meet the civics course and assessment requirement. If the student previously demonstrated civic literacy competency based on the previous civic literacy requirement through a course or an assessment under their associate degree program, those passed courses or passing scores could also be used toward demonstration of civic literacy competency for baccalaureate completion. The student would then just need to fulfill the other requirement via an assessment or course.
  
• Does a student with a bachelor’s degree from an SUS, private, or out-of-state institution entering an second bachelors level program at MDC in Fall 2021 or beyond need to meet the new civic literacy requirement of course and assessment? Is the attainment of a bachelors sufficient to satisfy the requirement?
  The statute/rule do not indicate this applies to the student's first baccalaureate degree. Any student seeking an FCS baccalaureate degree with a catalog year of 2021-2022 and beyond is required to demonstrate competency by meeting the course and assessment requirement.
  
• Does a student who attended a Florida College System (FCS) institution more than one year ago (received a degree or earned some credits from the institution) and is now returning to the same or another FCS institution required to satisfy the new civic literacy requirement?

  Scenario 1: Attended prior to Fall 2018 - Didn’t take AMH 2020 or POS 2041

  Scenario 2: Attended since Fall 2018 - Satisfied course or assessment only or Didn’t satisfy either course or assessment

  Students under catalog years 2018-2019 through 2020-2021 are only required to complete the approved course or assessment. If a student is in catalog year 2021-2022 and beyond, that student is required to complete the approved course and pass an approved assessment.

  Approved Courses and Assessments

• How does credit-by-exam apply toward the civic literacy requirement?
  Credit received for courses in Rule 6A-10.02413, F.A.C., (AMH 2020 and POS 2041) via credit-by-exam will count toward the course requirement.
  • If the exam used as the basis of awarding of credit is in Rule 6A-10.02413, F.A.C., (e.g., AP and CLEP) the student would be considered as having met both the course and the assessment civic literacy competency.
  • If the exam used as the basis of awarding of credit is not in rule (e.g., AICE and IB), the student would be considered as having met only the course requirement. These students would need to be assessed using an approved assessment in rule.

• How long are assessment scores valid? Is there an expiration date?
  The rule does not specify expiration dates of test scores. Scores do not expire.

• If students complete AMH 2020 or POS 2041, do they still need to complete an assessment?
  Yes. Completion of AMH 2020 or POS 2041 only fulfills the course requirement for postsecondary civic literacy competency for students entering the FCS under the 2021-22 catalog year and thereafter.
  
• Does the final exam in AMH 2020 or POS 2041 count toward meeting the assessment requirement?
  No. Because final exams in courses are not approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE), they do not count toward the assessment requirement. These students would still be required to pass an approved assessment in Rule 6A-10.02413, F.A.C.
  
• What competencies does the FCLE cover?
  • Test items for the FCLE are based on competencies that describe the content to be covered by a test.
  • FCLE competencies cover the knowledge necessary to demonstrate the postsecondary requirement for civic literacy, as outlined in statute:
    • Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government.
    • An understanding of the United States Constitution and its application.
    • Knowledge of the founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of our institutions of self-government.
    • An understanding of landmark Supreme Court cases, landmark legislation and landmark executive actions and their impact on law and society.
      
• How many test questions appear on the FCLE?
  Approximately 80 test items appear on the FCLE that was implemented on October 25, 2021. Note: The previous versions that was administered in the high schools during school years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, and in the state university system from 2018 through 2021 included 100 questions.
  
• What is the passing score on the FCLE?
  The passing score is 60 percent, which is 48 correct out of 80.
  Note: The passing score for the FCLE that was administered in the high schools during school years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021, and in the state university system from 2018 through 2021 is also 60 percent
  (60 correct out of 100).
  
• What is the criteria to take the FCLE at MDC for the first time and for retesting?
  To test for the first time, students must be enrolled in either AMH 2020 or POS 2041 or previously received a letter grade.
  Retesting requires a 30-day waiting period. Department Chair approval is required after the second attempt.Submit a FCLE Retake Request Form.
  
• Are online test preparation resources available?
  Yes. See civic literacy resources below. Basic information for Fall 2021 and more robust resources in Spring 2022.Click here for FLDOE Resources to Foster Civic Literacy.
  
• What testing accommodations will be available?
  Accommodations will be available for the Florida Civic Literacy Test, some beginning in Fall 2021 with more available in Spring 2022.
  
• If high school students or students from another Florida public postsecondary institution pass the FCLE, will they have fulfilled both the assessment and the course requirements?
  No. Students who pass the FCLE will still be required to pass an approved course once they enter MDC. Note: MDC will use the FASTER system to electronically receive FCLE scores from other institutions. Submit aTest Entry Request Formfor requesting to have a test record entered in the MDC student record keeping system.

Civic Literacy Resources

Below are resources for students seeking to fulfill the assessment requirement.

FLDOE developed FCLE Supplemental Guide and Sample Test

The purpose of these sample test materials is to orient faculty and students to the nature of the test content and test questions on the FCLE. The content included in the Supplemental Guide is not intended to replace associated coursework or other preparation methods required to demonstrate civic literacy, as described inFlorida Statute. The sample questions and answers are not intended to demonstrate the length of the actual test. Student performance on the sample test should not be used as a predictor of performance on the actual test, and neither the sample test nor the supplemental guide should be used to guide classroom instruction.

• Supplemental Guide for the FCLE(PDF)
• FCLE Sample Items(PDF)

Online FCLE Sample Test

Access the online FCLE sample test here. The sample test is not scored. To access the correct answers to the sample items, see the FCLE sample items document on the FLDOE FCLE webpage.

Additional resources are available via theFLDOE Civic Literacy webpageand the links below.

• CLEP - American Government(online format – can be used to meet the course and test requirement)
• Kahoot Practice Test for Florida Civic Literacy(online format)
• Quizlet Civic Literacy Review(online format)
• Civics Practice Test(online format)
• Civics Questions and Answers(paper format)
• Civics (History and Government) Questions for the Naturalization Test(paper format)
• Citizenship Test Questions and Practice Quiz(online format)
• Civics360
• Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test
• America's Founding Documents
• Landmark Supreme Court Cases
• U.S. Constitution and its amendments
• Supplemental Guide for the FCLE(PDF)
• FCLE Sample Items(PDF)

Miami Dade College Civic Literacy Courses

• POS 2041 American Federal Government (3 Credits)
  The American Constitution and its development, the organization and functions of the national government, political parties and the electoral process, and the relationship of the individual to the federal government.
• AMH 2020 History of the United States since 1877 (3 Credits)
  A survey of social, economic, and political developments in the United States since 1877.

Advanced Placement Courses and Resources

The AP can be used to meet the course and test requirement.

• AP United States Government and Politics
• AP United States History
• AP Examination Calendar
• AP Homepage

CLEP and Resources

CLEP American Government is available at the Miami Dade College test centers. The CLEP can be used to meet the course and test requirement.

• View more information aboutCLEP at MDC including Test Preparation.
• View more information about theCLEP American Government exam.

For more information please contact the MDC Social Sciences Department.