Closing the Gap

Closing the Gap: The Florida College System Civics Literacy Initiative

Project Background

Closing the Gap: The Florida College System Civics Literacy Initiative aims to infuse and enhance civic learning and democratic engagement for students in the Florida College System. This initiative is inspired and supported by former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham, who has made the revival of civics education a passion since retiring in 2005. His book, America, The Owner’s Manual: Making Government Work for You, is a virtual textbook for teaching citizens how they can participate in their democracy in effective ways.

The project, in partnership with the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida, the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida, the Education Commission of the States and the FCS Council of Presidents, seeks to close the civics education gap that many American leaders regard as a national crisis and to regenerate citizen engagement.

The ultimate goal is to teach the basics of democracy to the current and succeeding generations in the state college system and to provide tools and resources for the K-12 public schools. The purpose of this workshop is to design the tools and methods to put into action five initiatives identified by key stakeholders at a strategy session in April 2013:

  • Survey the Florida College System for best practices and establish an on-going clearing house to measure progress and share successes
  • Develop models to integrate civic literacy into cross-curriculum coursewor
  • Embed civic literacy in the mission statements of the colleges in the FSC
  • Develop a FCS Model Legislature
  • Develop strategies to promote civic engagement among domestic and international immigrants and other special populations

As a state-approved statewide policy center, the Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions at St. Petersburg College serves as the vehicle for the project and the clearing house for its ongoing operation.

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