Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that the winner of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate at the upcoming Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) State Championship will receive a $50,000 scholarship and a trophy named in honor of Charlie Kirk. The event aims to highlight the importance of respectful debate among students. The runner-up will be awarded a $25,000 scholarship, while each semifinalist will receive $15,000 and each quarterfinalist $10,000.
“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.”
Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas commented on Florida’s role in promoting civics education: “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,” he said. “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 are funded by philanthropist Patricia Duggan from Clearwater with a ten-year commitment. The Florida Prepaid Foundation matches these scholarships, increasing their value. Additionally, both the winner and runner-up will be invited by the Ronald Reagan Foundation to attend the National Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate in California.
The FCDI State Championship is scheduled for April 5, 2026, at New College of Florida in Sarasota. Thousands of students across all 67 school districts participate in FCDI programs designed to promote civil discourse and reasoning skills rooted in civic virtues.
Since 2020, under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, FCDI has grown from 59 teams in 11 districts to over 330 teams statewide, including more than 125 new teams. This year alone features over 30 tournaments where students engage with civic education through debate.
Florida’s Civics Literacy Excellence Initiative includes several measures such as introducing a civic literacy assessment for high school government courses starting with the 2021-2022 academic year; requiring postsecondary students entering from 2018-19 onward to demonstrate civic literacy competency; revising K-12 civics standards with full implementation beginning in 2023-24; creating a Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement aligned with updated standards; developing an integrated K-12 curriculum; and providing support through Regional Civics Literacy Directors and Coaches who offer professional development for educators.
