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 runner-up will be awarded a $25,000 scholarship, while two semifinalists will each receive $15,000 scholarships, and four quarterfinalists will each get $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 added: “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. 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 through a donation from philanthropist Patricia Duggan of Clearwater with a ten-year commitment. The Florida Prepaid Foundation matches these scholarships, doubling their value. In addition to monetary awards, both the winner and runner-up will be invited 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 aimed at promoting civil discourse and understanding civic virtues.
Since 2020 under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, FCDI has expanded from 59 teams in 11 districts to over 330 teams statewide—including more than 125 new teams this year alone—with students participating in over 30 tournaments.
Florida’s efforts include introducing civic literacy assessments for high school students enrolled in United States Government courses since 2021-2022; requiring postsecondary students entering Florida College System institutions or state universities from 2018-19 onward to demonstrate competency in civic literacy; revising K-12 Civics and Government standards with full implementation beginning in 2023-24; creating a rigorous Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement aligned with updated standards; developing an integrated K-12 Civics curriculum available as both primary instructional resource or supplemental tool; and providing professional development support through Regional Civics Literacy Directors and Coaches.
