Dr. John Long Middle School and Wiregrass Ranch High School are among 60 schools across Florida selected to take part in the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI).
The selections were announced during the Pasco County School Board meeting on June 16.
The initiative is supported through a $5 million grant from The Marcus Foundation.
“The mission of the FCDI is to create access and opportunities for all students to have the best civics education, including curriculum, debate programs, and high-quality teachers that are catalysts for students becoming great citizens who can preserve our constitutional republic for future generations,” according to a posting on the FloridaEducationFoundation.org website.
The idea is to increase access for all students to participate in speech and debate programs, regardless of school district, socioeconomic status, or background, according to the website.
The FCDI will develop and host the first of its kind National Civics and Debate Competition (NCDC), which will allow a broader range of students to explore, understand, and express important constitutional, legal and societal issues, the posting says.
Teachers and debate coaches also will be provided opportunities for professional development throughout the year, to enable them to learn techniques and best practices for teaching civics, speech and debate.
Published June 24, 2020
