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

The 9-12 Champion of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate will receive a $50,000 scholarship and trophy named in honor of Charlie Kirk

SARASOTA, Fla.-Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the winner of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate at the upcoming Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) State Championship will be awarded $50,000 and a trophy named in honor of Charlie Kirk to underscore the critical importance of teaching students the value of respectful debate. The runner-up will receive a $25,000 scholarship, the two semifinalists will each receive a $15,000 scholarship, and the four quarterfinalists will each receive a $10,000 scholarship.

"We have worked hard by to make Florida the national model for civics education," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "The Florida Civics and Debate Initiative reflects our commitment to fostering students' appreciation for America's founding principles. The champion of the next FCDI state championship will take home the Charlie Kirk prize, renamed in honor of a young man who embodied the principles of patriotism, civil discourse, and open debate. The generous scholarship awards for the winner and other top competitors will be a great memorial to Kirk's legacy"

"Florida is modeling for the nation the impact of comprehensive civics education. With the addition of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate into FCDI, students have even more opportunities to showcase their civics knowledge while engaging in respectful discourse," said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. "Through FCDI and the Civics Literacy Excellence Initiatives, we are ensuring the next generation understands our founding principles and is equipped to preserve them through active civic participation."

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

The FCDI State Championship will be held on April 5, 2026, at New College of Florida in Sarasota. Through FCDI, thousands of students across the state are engaging in civil discourse, sharpening their reasoning skills, and embodying the civic virtues that uphold our constitutional republic. With FCDI teams established in all 67 school districts, this statewide achievement reflects Governor DeSantis' continued commitment to fostering a deep understanding of America's founding principles and to preparing the next generation to protect and preserve liberty.

Under Governor DeSantis' leadership, FCDI has expanded from just 59 teams in 11 districts in 2020 to more than 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.

Florida's Civics Literacy Excellence Initiative

Thanks to Governor DeSantis' efforts, Florida continues to lead the nation in civics education by:

• Introducing a civic literacy assessment for all high school students enrolled in the United States Government course starting in the 2021-2022 school year.
• Requiring all postsecondary students who entered a Florida College System institution or state university in 2018-19 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy.
• Revising the Civics and Government standards to ensure comprehensive civics instruction across all grades K-12, with full implementation beginning in the 2023-24 school year.
• Creating the Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement, a rigorous, first-of-its-kind training aligned to Florida's revised civics and government academic standards.
• Developing a K-12 Civics curriculum aligned with the updated standards, designed to serve as either a primary instructional resource or a supplemental tool, available starting in the 2023-24 school year.
• Creating an integrated K-12 Civics curriculum that equips teachers with resources to seamlessly incorporate civics education across other subject areas.
• Providing robust civic literacy support through Regional Civics Literacy Directors and Coaches, who offer in-person school visits, personalized coaching, and professional development opportunities for educators.

For more information about the Florida Department of Education, visit https://www.fldoe.org.