Model Policy: The Social Studies Curriculum Act

The Social Studies Curriculum Act mandates K-12 instruction in Economics, State History, United States History, Civics, and Western Civilization.

MODEL LEGISLATIVE TEXT

Section A

1. The governing body of any school district or public charter school shall require all students in grades 1-4 to take a program of instruction each year in social studies.

2. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the workings of the federal, state, and local levels of government.

3. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include the rights and responsibilities of citizens of our constitutional republic and of the State of [name].

4. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the history of the secular and religious ideals and institutions of liberty, including political, religious, economic, social, and cultural liberty, in Western Civilization, the United States of America, and the State of [name], which emphasizes the good, worthwhile, and best achievements of these ideals and institutions of liberty.

5. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of exemplary figures in Western Civilization, the United States of America, and the State of [name] who have fought to secure liberty for their fellow men.

6. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the cultural heritage of Western Civilization, the United States of America, and the State of [name].

7. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the geography of the United States of America and the State of [name].

8. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the history and meaning of the American flag and the national anthem.

Section B

1. The governing body of any school district or public charter school shall require all students in grades 5-8 to take a program of instruction each year in social studies.

2. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include a one-semester civics education course; a one-semester course in United States history; a one-semester course in the history of Western Civilization; a one-semester course in [name of state] history to be taught in grade 8; and a one-semester course in economics, with emphasis on the free enterprise system and its benefits, to be taught in grade 8.

3. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the workings of the federal, state, and local levels of government.

The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include the rights and responsibilities of citizens of our constitutional republic and of the State of [name].

5. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the history of the secular and religious ideals and institutions of liberty, including political, religious, economic, social, and cultural liberty, in Western Civilization, the United States of America, and the State of [name], which emphasizes the good, worthwhile, and best achievements of these ideals and institutions of liberty, and which uses writings from prominent figures in Western civilization, such as Aristotle, John Locke, and Thomas Jefferson.

6. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of exemplary figures in Western Civilization, the United States of America, and the State of [name] who have fought to secure liberty for their fellow men, such as Epaminondas, Martin Luther, and George Washington.

7. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the cultural heritage of Western Civilization, the United States of America, and the State of [name], and which uses writings from prominent figures in Western civilization, such as Homer, William Shakespeare, and Benjamin Franklin.

8. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the history and meaning of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and the constitution and laws of this state.

Section C

1. The governing body of any school district or public charter school shall require all students in grades 9-12 to take a program of instruction each year in social studies.

2. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include a one-year civics education course; a one-year course in United States history; and a one-year course in the history of Western Civilization.

3. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the workings of the federal, state, and local levels of government.

4. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include the rights and responsibilities of citizens of our constitutional republic and of the State of [name].

5. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the history of the secular and religious ideals and institutions of liberty, including political, religious, economic, social, and cultural liberty, in Western Civilization, the United States of America, and the State of [name], which emphasizes the good, worthwhile, and best achievements of these ideals and institutions of liberty, and which uses writings from prominent figures in Western civilization, such as Aristotle, John Locke, and Thomas Jefferson.

6. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of exemplary figures in Western Civilization, the United States of America, and the State of [name] who have fought to secure liberty for their fellow men, such as Epaminondas, Martin Luther, and George Washington.

7. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the cultural heritage of Western Civilization, the United States of America, and the State of [name], and which uses writings from prominent figures in Western civilization, such as Homer, William Shakespeare, and Benjamin Franklin.

8. The instruction listed in subsection (1) shall include knowledge of the history and meaning of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and the constitution and laws of this state.

Section D

The governing body of any school district or public charter school shall require all students who receive a high school diploma to have received a passing grade in grades 9-12 in a one-year civics education course; a one-year course in United States history; and a one-year course in the history of Western Civilization.

Section E

The College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework may not be used, drawn upon, or in any way incorporated, by any administrator, faculty member, or other public employees, into any state standards, frameworks, training, curricula, lesson plans, or other material.

Section F

If any provision of this chapter, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this chapter and the application of its provisions to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.