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Governor Ron DeSantis Highlights the Upcoming Florida Civics and Debate Initiative State Championship at New College of Florida

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SARASOTA, Fla. ~ Sarasota, Florida - Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that the winner of the upcoming Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) State Championship will receive a $50,000 scholarship and a trophy named in honor of Charlie Kirk. The runner-up will also be awarded a $25,000 scholarship, while the two semifinalists will each receive a $15,000 scholarship and the four quarterfinalists will each receive a $10,000 scholarship.

The FCDI State Championship, which will take place on April 5th, 2026 at New College of Florida in Sarasota, aims to promote respectful debate among students and highlight the importance of teaching them the value of civil discourse. This year's championship will also feature the newly added Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate.

Governor DeSantis expressed his pride in making Florida a national model for civics education and emphasized the state's commitment to instilling an appreciation for America's founding principles in students. He stated that the generous scholarships awarded to top competitors would serve as a great memorial to Charlie Kirk's legacy.

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Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas also praised Florida's efforts in promoting comprehensive civics education and highlighted how FCDI provides students with opportunities to showcase their knowledge while engaging in respectful discourse. He further stated that through initiatives like FCDI and Civics Literacy Excellence Initiatives, Florida is ensuring that the next generation understands and upholds our constitutional republic.

The scholarships were made possible through a generous donation from philanthropist Patricia Duggan of Clearwater with a ten-year commitment to continue providing support. These scholarships are matched by the Florida Prepaid Foundation, doubling their impact. Additionally, thanks to the Ronald Reagan Foundation, both the winner and runner-up will receive invitations to attend the National Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate in California.

Under Governor DeSantis' leadership, FCDI has expanded significantly from just 59 teams in 11 districts in 2020 to over 330 teams in every school district across the state, including over 125 brand new teams. This year, students will compete in more than 30 tournaments, using debate to deepen their understanding of civic education.

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Florida has been at the forefront of promoting civics education, thanks to Governor DeSantis' efforts. The state has introduced a civic literacy assessment for all high school students enrolled in the United States Government course and requires all postsecondary students to demonstrate competency in civic literacy. The Civics and Government standards have also been revised to ensure comprehensive civics instruction across all grades K-12.

In addition, Florida has created the Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement, a rigorous training program aligned with the state's revised civics and government academic standards. A K-12 Civics curriculum has also been developed and will be available starting in the 2023-24 school year. Furthermore, an integrated K-12 Civics curriculum has been designed to help teachers incorporate civics education into other subject areas.

The Florida Department of Education is committed to providing robust support for civic literacy through Regional Civics Literacy Directors and Coaches who offer personalized coaching, professional development opportunities for educators, and in-person school visits.

For more information about the Florida Department of Education and its initiatives, please visit www.fldoe.org.

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