DeSantis Pushes Civics Effort in Education Tour

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is staging a series of education-focused news conferences this week, including events at New College of Florida in Sarasota and the University of South Florida in Tampa, with local outlets livestreaming the briefings. Officials joining the events include Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas, New College President Richard Corcoran, Division of Bond Finance Director Ben Watkins and State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues. The governor’s office is promoting an expanded civics initiative that awards a Charlie Kirk trophy and a $50,000 scholarship to the state’s speech-and-debate champion, with additional scholarships for runners-up and semifinalists funded by a philanthropic donation matched by the Florida Prepaid Foundation. Reporting and critics tie the push to proposed K–12 standards linked to legislation SB 1264, saying the changes would emphasize the “dangers and evils of communism” and risk politicizing curricula or rehabilitating figures such as Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Separately, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier will hold a news conference in Ocala with statewide prosecutor Brad McVay, State Attorney Bill Gladson and Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods. Observers say the briefings form part of a broader education and political messaging campaign by the governor’s office ahead of further announcements.