Over 11,000 Florida teachers receive Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement

By Amber Jo Cooper

Published Jul. 3, 2023, 3:28 p.m. ET | Updated Jul. 3, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis presents checks to education staff impacted by Hurricane Ian, Oct. 21, 2022.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the state has awarded 11,000 teachers more than $33 million for completing civics training offered by the Florida Department of Education.

The educators have completed either the Summer Civics Professional Learning Series or the first-of-its-kind Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement, which equips teachers with the knowledge and skills to provide high-quality civics instruction.

Each educator earning a Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement receives a stipend worth $3,000 each, according to the governor’s office.

DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education launched the Civics Seal of Excellence in January, and more than 10,000 teachers registered for the course within the first week.

According to the governor’s office, course enrollment is currently at capacity with 20,000 teachers enrolled and an additional 11,000 educators on the waiting list.

The department of education enlisted the assistance of nationally recognized civics experts to create the 50-hour online program that contains over 28 hours of high-quality video lessons “focused on America’s history, civics, and government.”

“Understanding the founding principles of our nation is the key to protecting and maintaining our republic for generations to come,” DeSantis said.

“Florida teachers are leading the way in civics education, which is demonstrated by our student success, especially when compared to the rest of the nation. Congratulations to our educators who have taken advantage of Florida’s unique civics professional learning opportunities,” he said.

“Thank you to Governor DeSantis for distributing $33 million to teachers who have completed civics training to better prepare their students to become civically engaged and honor their responsibilities as American citizens,” Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. said.

Kelley Mathews, a social studies teacher at Fort White High School in Columbia County, said the Civics Seal of Excellence course should be a “model for the entire nation.”

“The text assignments and materials are extremely valuable in making connections between historical context and modern day applications. I teach U.S. Government, Economics, African American History, Law Studies, and Florida History, and this course will benefit each and every one of these classes,” Mathews said.