Florida Strengthens Civics Education through the Capitol Complex Professional Learning Event

February 12, 2026

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Florida Strengthens Civics Education through the Capitol Complex Professional Learning Event

Tallahassee, Fla., February 12, 2026 – To further strengthen Florida’s nation-leading civics education efforts, the Florida Department of Education hosted 50 social studies teachers from across the state at the Capitol Complex Professional Learning Event. This three-day event provided participants with an in-depth look at the workings of Florida’s state government, expanded their civics knowledge, and equipped them with classroom-ready activities to use with their students.

Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas and 2026 Florida Teacher of the Year Mark Harrison at the Capitol Complex Professional Learning Event.

2026 Florida Teacher of the Year Mark Harrison and Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas Welcome Participants to the Capitol Complex Professional Learning Event.

Participants of the 2026 Capitol Complex Professional Learning Event with Senate President Ben Albritton

“Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida continues to lead the nation in civics education. This professional learning opportunity, along with the Department’s additional civics-focused initiatives, plays a critical role in strengthening civics education across Florida by enhancing teachers’ ability to deliver the highest-quality instruction to students statewide,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “It was an honor to address the participants at this event, and I am confident that the future of civics education in Florida’s schools is in excellent hands with this dedicated group of educators.”

“This wasn’t just a training, it was a full, immersive experience. For three days, teachers engaged in a hands-on exploration of the real world of government, and I found it both inspiring and energizing. After more than twenty years in the classroom, I can honestly say it’s one of my favorite professional learning experiences,” said Mark Harrison, 2026 Florida Teacher of the Year.

Governor Ron DeSantis has championed efforts to ensure Florida remains a national leader in civics education. He has proposed $17.5 million to support civics engagement in the Floridians First 2026-2027 Budget.

• $10 million, an increase of $6.5 million, to increase participation in the Florida Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement and provide educators who receive the endorsement with a $3,000 stipend.
• $3 million to continue expanding competitive civics and debate competitions through the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative and the Florida Debate Initiative.
• $3 million to support school districts in improving civic literacy for Florida’s students using regional civics literacy coaches.
• $1.5 million for the Civics Professional Development Initiative to provide professional learning aligned with Florida’s civics and government standards.

Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement

The Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement is a first-of-its-kind teacher training program aligned with Florida’s revised civics and government standards. The 55-hour course provides educators a strong foundational knowledge of factual American history and the guiding principles that influenced the Founders as they debated and adopted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. In January 2026, a new cohort opened for educators to register for the endorsement, and all available seats were filled within one minute. Currently, thousands of Florida educators are on the waitlist to enroll in the course.

Florida Civics and Debate and Florida Debate Initiatives

FCDI and FDI have expanded access to competitive civics and debate programs to all students in Florida providing students an opportunity to engage in civil discourse, sharpen their reasoning skills and embody the civic virtues that uphold our constitutional republic. Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, participation in FCDI and FDI has expanded from less than 60 teams to now more than 350 teams in every school district across the state.

Regional Civics Literacy Coaches

The Regional Civics Literacy Coaches support teachers and schools through on-site visits, individualized coaching, and professional learning opportunities. Their work ensures educators have the tools, knowledge and confidence to deliver high-quality, engaging civics and government instruction.

Civics and Government Instructional Guide

The Civics and Government Instructional Guide supports implementation of Florida’s revised civics and government standards and is designed to help teachers deliver high-quality, standards-aligned instruction.

K-12 Civics Curriculum

The K-12 Civics Curriculum is aligned with the civics and government standards and is designed to serve either as a comprehensive primary instructional resource or as supplemental support for civics and government instruction.

K-12 Integrated Civics Curriculum

The K-12 Integrated Civics Curriculum provides teachers with supplemental resources that align to the civics and government standards, allowing teachers to integrate civics education across other subject areas.

Additional information about the Civics Literacy Excellence Initiative is available on the Civics Literacy page of the Department’s website.

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