Some Florida high school students could be sitting in new college-level American history classes next year, as the state is creating its own alternative to Advanced Placement courses.
A Department of Education memo issued April 10 states the agency will begin a pilot program for additional accelerated U.S. history classes for high school students to earn college credit for Florida public universities.
The pilot program for Florida Advanced Course and Test (FACT): U.S. History for the 2026-2027 school year is modeled on two introductory college-level courses, and instruction will be based on “current K-12 standards.” Full statewide implementation is scheduled for the 2027-2028 school year.
DOE officials didn’t return an email and call seeking comment Monday.
The move to add another college-level course to the high school curriculum is part of a 2023 law authorizing DOE to add advanced courses in collaboration with the State University System and the Florida College System.
The law (HB 1537) stemmed from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push against the College Board, which runs the AP program and related college-level courses.
AP Psychology’s teaching of gender and sexual orientation were deemed to run afoul of restrictions placed on those topics in the classroom by lawmakers. And DeSantis’ administration also took issue with the AP African American Studies course, claiming it taught critical race theory in violation of new state laws.
The state initially banned AP Psychology but later allowed the class to continue. In a letter to superintendents, then-Commissioner Manny Diaz said sexuality and gender, a chapter in the AP class, “can be taught consistent with Florida law.”
But the state still does not allow AP African American Studies to be taught in public schools. In response to critics who decried the move, DeSantis and DOE officials have pointed to other African-American history requirements throughout the state curriculum.
U.S. history is the second subject in the FACT program. Last year, the DOE initiated a statewide pilot for college algebra.
Like AP exams, FACT will allow students to earn college credit after achieving a minimum score on a postsecondary credit assessment as identified by the DOE.
Students who wish to take the FACT Algebra course can enroll in the 2026-2027 school year, and upon passing the exam, a student will receive college credit which will be accepted at any Florida public college or university in which the student enrolls.
According to the DOE memo, the plan for the FACT U.S. history courses is the same. If a student passes the U.S. history exams, they will have earned credit upon enrolling in any public college or university in the state of Florida. Students with sufficiently high scores will also complete their postsecondary civic literacy requirement.
But if a student does not pass the exam, they still will be given credit for the Introductory Survey history class, which counts for college credit but is not an approved general education class.
–Ana Goñi-Lessan, News Service of Florida
Deborah Coffey says
The Fascists have to “dumb down Americans” in order to hold complete power over them. More lies, deceit, and propaganda.
Samuel L. Bronkowitz says
After flagging sociology courses at the collegiate level for having DEI content (how can you talk about societies without talking about race?) the florida legislature has now set its sights on history. I can only imagine the revisionism that’s going to happen, how slavery gave black people jobs, how america entered the wrong side during world war 2, and how we “won” vietnam, all of it hallucinated by whatever dogshit AI they choose to ghostwrite their history with.
Pogo says
What goes around, comes around; get that zoot suit to the dry cleaner so it will be ready when the hipsters invent/discover it.
https://www.google.com/search?q=zoot+suits
Keenan Hreib says
No surprises here. THE STATE OF IGNORANCE, and the Administration that runs it with marching orders to better administer EVANGELICAL, WHITE NATIONALIST, and RACIST white washing of historical facts to better brainwash and mold the base. A base so wantedly ignorant that it doesn’t realize it’s being abused and manipulated.
Keep it up. History will not be kind to MAGA and the America hating representatives that say they reflect the American people
They don’t. If this is AMERICA FIRST! We are FUCKED.
Facts don’t have feelings. To put it very simply: THE” FUCK YOUR FEELINGS” PARTY CAN GO FUCK ITSELF.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Laurel says
Isn’t it cute how they named it “FACT”?
By the way, will someone tell these FACT people that Columbus didn’t discover America?
Mike Cocchiola says
Young people graduating from Floriduh schools will be stigmatized forever. Their education will not stand up to the rigors of blue-state schools, and in the competition for the best careers and jobs, Floriduh students lacking critical thinking skills and factual knowledge will be left behind to change tires and paint nails.
Mamas and Papas… don’t let your babies grow up to be ignorant MAGAs.
Keenan Hreib says
Mike, that is an incredibly valuable point! Thank you.