The State Board of Education adopted new K-12 Social Studies Standards in 2008 called the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS).  These standards, which must be implemented beginning in the 2012-2013 school year, are aligned with the instructional materials adoption and implementation of new K-12 social studies textbooks.  In 2010, the State Legislature passed the Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Civics Education Act: HB 105 which has been written into the 2011 Florida Statute Title XLVIII Education Code.  The Statute can be found at www.myflorida.com.  This law requires middle school students to take a Civics course and earn a passing score on an end-of -course Civics exam.  Beginning in 2012-2013, a yearlong Civics course (7th Grade) will replace the current Geography course.  Geography standards are embedded within the Civics course as well as in the other middle school social studies courses.  A field test will be administered to select middle schools throughout the state in 2012-2013 and beginning in 2013-2014, seventh grade students will be required to take a Civics end-of course exam that will count for 30% of their final grade.  In 2014-2015, students will be required to earn a passing score on the exam in order to receive course credit and be promoted to high school.  Please note:  Students entering sixth grade in 2012-2013 will be the first group of students affected by this new legislation.