This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format.
Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date].
| State |
Status/Date |
Level |
Summary |
|
 FL | Signed into law 06/2011 | P-12
Postsec. | Allows a principal to waive the civics end-of-course (EOC) assessment requirement for a transfer student who already completed a civics course (Sec. 25). Establishes an exemption from the intensive reading course requirement for certain students (Sec. 16, 18). Provides the commissioner limited flexibility in reporting student results on statewide assessments and eliminates the 3-week EOC administration window (Sec.25). Requires high schools to evaluate the college readiness of each student who scores a certain level on statewide assessments (Sec. 26).
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h1255er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=1255&Session=2011
Title: H.B. 1255 - Sec. 16, 18, 25, 26
Source: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov
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| ME | Signed into law 06/2011 | P-12 | Requires a secondary student to satisfactorily complete at least one course in civics and government to receive a high school diploma. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/chapters/PUBLIC294.asp
Title: H.P. 902 (L.D. 1211)
Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org
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| NC | Signed into law 06/2011 | P-12 | Amends civic literacy curriculum requirements related to the founding of the United States. Deletes the requirements that high school students learn and be required to demonstrate understanding of the found of the U.S. and replaces with a specific requirement that high school students take a semester-long course entitled "American History I – The Founding Principles." Details specific ideas, philosophies, and rights that must be taught as part of the course and stablishes that a passing grade in the course will be a high school graduation requirement beginning with the 2014-2015 school year. Requires the state department of education to report by October 15 of each odd-numbered year to the Legislature covering the implementation of the new curriculum.
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2011/Bills/House/PDF/H588v6.pdf
Title: H.B. 588
Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us
| |
| TN | to governor 05/2011 | P-12 | Specifies that each student must be taught the foundational instruments, mechanisms and values of American government and that no teacher or administrator in an LEA may be prohibited from using or reading from the United States Constitution during the course of educational instruction or from posting the Constitution in a public school building, classroom or at an event. Adds that students must be informed of the nature of America which makes it an exception, differentiated by its behavior, influence and contributions, from the other nations of the world and shown why America is a positive difference, that has led the world to improvements in science, agriculture, economics, education, justice, human rights, the standard of living, and liberty not only within our borders, but across the world. Students must also be informed of the characteristics of the United States government, to include:
(1) The Declaration of Independence separated our people from our former government. It explains why we were willing to war against our own king, what our values were, and how his tyranny had tried to take those values away; (2) The Constitution is the "rule book" for how the federal government works. No action is permitted unless permission for it can be found in the Constitution; (3) The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, with the Bill of Rights, are available for all to read today, and still apply in exactly the words they originally contained in simple English; and (4) The Constitution created a Republic, not a Democracy. The difference is that we do not directly choose our laws; we choose wise people from among us who will represent our interests, and who will honor the limitations we have put on them, to form our laws. Whatever needs our representatives may see, and whatever urges we as a people may feel from time to time, the government is only empowered to address certain listed issues. It is our duty to use prudence and understanding when we choose these representatives. Amends TCA Title 49.
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/107/Bill/HB1625.pdf
Title: H.B. 1625
Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills
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| NE | Signed into law 04/2011 | P-12 | Expands the topics required to be covered in the teaching of civics in high schools. The bill provides that in teaching about the
duties of citizenship, specific attention shall be given to instruction regarding active participation in the improvement of a citizen's
community, state, country, and world and the value and practice of civil discourse between opposing interests.
http://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/Current/PDF/Slip/LB544.pdf
Title: L.B. 544
Source: http://nebraskalegislature.gov/
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| GA | Vetoed 06/2010 | P-12
Postsec. | Requires all K-12 schools and colleges/universities receiving state funds to hold an educational program on the governing principles of the U.S. Constitution on or around September 17 each year for the students served by the school, college or university.
Bill text (pages 1-2 and 6 of 6): http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb239.pdf
Governor's veto message: SB 239 ensures that families moving from one school district to another register their children for school in a timely manner. Unfortunately, the language of a floor amendment seeking to safeguard homeschooling families instead accomplished the opposite; as written, the bill would actually require homeschooling families to enroll their children in a public or private school upon moving to a new school district. Because of this unintended consequence, I VETO SB 239. From http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,78006749_160096907_160291947,00.html
Title: S.B. 239 - Section 1 and 3
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us
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