From the ECS State Policy Database Curriculum--Social Studies/History

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 CA Signed into law 09/2012 P-12 Labor History Month A.B. 2269 From bill summary: Moves Labor History Month from April to May. Continues existing provision encouraging districts to commemorate that month... More... CA Signed into law 09/2012 P-12 History-Social Science Curriculum Framework and Evaluation Criteria for Instructional Materials S.B. 1540 From bill summary: Existing law prohibits the state board from adopting instructional materials until the 2015–16 school year. These provisi... More... CA Signed into law 08/2012 P-12 Instruction in Bracero Program S.B. 993 From bill summary: Authorizes social sciences instruction for grades 7-12 to include instruction on the Bracero program. Authorizes that ins... More... LA Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 History/Civics Course Content Requirements H.B. 436 Requires instruction on the Founding Principles of the U.S. to be integrated into the high school American history and civics courses. Addre... More... MD Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Core Academic Standard Implementation S.B. 293 Requires that the county board include in its goals to improve student academic achievement a description of how it plans to ensure and meas... More... WV Adopted 03/2012 P-12 Social Studies Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools WV ADC s 126-44D-1, 2, 3, 4 Defines content standards and instructional goals and objectives for social studies program of study, consistent with West Virginia's move t... More... CA Signed into law 10/2011 P-12 Instruction on the Role of Filipinos in WWII A.B. 199 From bill summary: Encourages instruction in social sciences for grades 7-12 to include instruction on the role of Filipinos in World War II... More... CA Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Prohibition of Discriminatory Content S.B. 48 From bill summary: Updates references to certain categories of persons and requires instruction in social sciences to include a study of the... More... RI Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Teaching of Genocide H.B. 5732, S.B. 290 Defines genocide and requires the state department of education to make available on its website curriculum materials and such other materia... More... TN Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Curriculum Standards for US and State Government H.B. 1625 Requires the state board of education, in consultation with the department of education, to review the current elementary and secondary curr... More... ME Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Includes Civics in the Social Studies and History Courses Required for a Diploma H.P. 902 (L.D. 1211) Requires a secondary student to satisfactorily complete at least one course in civics and government to receive a high school diploma. http:... More... NC Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Amends Civic Literacy Curriculum Requirements H.B. 588 Amends civic literacy curriculum requirements related to the founding of the United States. Deletes the requirements that high school studen... More... TN to governor 05/2011 P-12 Teaching American Government H.B. 1625 Specifies that each student must be taught the foundational instruments, mechanisms and values of American government and that no teacher or... More... UT Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Instruction in American History and Government H.B. 220 Requires instruction in American history and government to include a study of: (i) forms of government, such as a republic, a pure democrac... More... CA Vetoed 09/2010 P-12 Academic Content Standards Commission for Science and History-Social Science A.B. 97 Establishes the Academic Content Standards Commission for Science and History-Social Science. Upon the state superintendent's recommendation... More... CA Vetoed 09/2010 P-12 History-Social Science Framework and Textbooks S.B. 1451 From bill summary: Requires the state board to inform the chairs of the assembly and senate education committees and the secretary for educa... More... CA Signed into law 09/2010 P-12 Fred Korematsu Day A.B. 1775 Adds each January 30, Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution, to the days having special significance for public schools... More... CA Signed into law 09/2010 P-12 California Holocaust Memorial Week A.C.R. 31 Establishes the week of April 12 through April 18, 2010 as "California Holocaust Memorial Week," and urges Californians to observe these day... More... CA Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Ed Roberts Day S.B. 1256 Requires the Governor to proclaim January 23 of each year as Ed Roberts Day, and encourages public schools and educational institutions to c... More... CA Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Ronald Reagan Day S.B. 944 Designates February 6 of each year as Ronald Reagan Day, and encourages public schools and educational institutions to conduct exercises rem... More... IL Signed into law 07/2010 P-12 Holocaust and Genocide Courses and Awareness H.B. 6059 Establishes the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission, including ex officio membership by the state superintendent of education and the... More... TN Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Course of Instruction that Includes U.S. Government S.B. 3432 As enacted, urges civics class be taught in high school. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/SB3432.pdf... More... OK Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Event to Be Included in State History Education H.B. 2750 Directs the state board of education to incorporate April 19, 1995, bombing information into the Oklahoma history social studies core curric... More... WI Signed into law 12/2009 P-12 History of Organized Labor and Collective Bargaining A.B. 172 Requires social studies instruction in public schools to include the history of organized labor in America and the collective bargaining pro... More... CA Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Harvey Milk Day S.B. 572 Provides that the Governor proclaims May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk Day and would designate that date as having special significance in ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2009 P-12 Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day A.B. 717 Requires the Governor to annually proclaim March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. Encourages schools to conduct exercis... More... CA Vetoed 09/2009 P-12 Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day A.B. 264 Requires the Governor to annually proclaim March 30 of each year as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. Encourages schools to conduct exercis... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 U.S. History Curriculum S.B. 1557 Provides that, to reinforce the study of the role and contributions of Hispanics, the U.S. history curriculum must include the study of the ... More... NC Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Expands Instruction on the Importance of Voting H.B. 908 Relates to voting laws; Expands instruction on the importance of voting in the high school social studies curriculum; Encourages local educa... More... IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Postsec. Disability History and Awareness H.B. 1035 Requires the state board of education to promote an annual campaign about disability history and awareness in the state. Requires a school d... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Writing and Social Studies Assessments H.B. 1 - Section 265.20.18 From DOE summary of H.B. 1: Prohibits the administration of the elementary writing and social studies assessments during the 2009-10 and 2... More... OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Waiver of American History Course Requirement H.B. 1 - Section 3313.60 From DOE summary of H.B. 1: Allows school district boards to waive the requirement to take an American history course for promotion from 8th... More... ND Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Social Studies Curriclum H.B. 1435 Provides for inclusion of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution in the school social studies curriculum; provid... More... AR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Improving History Education S.B. 452 Creates the State Legislative Task Force on the assessment and improvement of state history education in public schools. http://www.arkleg.s... More... MI Signed into law 12/2008 P-12 History of Africa in Curriculum H.B. 4902 Encourages a school district that teaches world history in middle school or high school to focus instruction regarding Africa on at least on... More... CA Vetoed 09/2008 P-12 curriculum standards S.B. 1097 Relates to the State Board of Education and school curriculum content standards. Requires that prior to the adoption of a curriculum framewo... More... CA Vetoed 09/2008 P-12 History curriculum A.B. 2064 Requires the State Board of Education and the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission to ensure that the history-social... More... OK Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 H.B. 2229 Amends existing law which requires public school districts to include instruction concerning the Declaration of Independence and the United ... More... CA Vetoed 09/2007 P-12 Social science A.B. 72 Encourages instruction in social science for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to include instruction on World War II and the role of Filipinos in ... More... NY Vetoed 08/2007 P-12 Veterans Speaking about Military Experiences A.B. 6574 Directs the director of the division of veterans affairs to develop a program providing for veteran educational speakers in classrooms of pu... More... IN Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Holocaust Education H.B. 1059 Directs each district to include a study of the Holocaust in each high school U.S. history course. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2007/... More... ND Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Geography, Government Education S.B. 1172 Amends several pieces of required instruction; changes from United States history, geography, and government to 1) geography; 2) government;... More... WV Adopted 10/2006 P-12 Social Studies Content Standards & Objectives Title 126, Series 44D Amends rules regarding social studies content standards and objectives for West Virginia schools. http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies/p2520.4_n... More... CA Vetoed 09/2006 P-12 Instruction on Human Rights Issues S.B. 1575 Relates to instruction on human rights issues in grades 7 through 12, inclusive. Requires the social science courses to include particular a... More... WV Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Postsec. Disability History Week H.B. 4491 Establishes the third week of October as Disability History Week. Directs public schools to provide instruction on disability history, peop... More... GA Adopted 04/2006 P-12 Teacher Preparation Programs GAC 505-3-.40 thru .43 Establishes rules regarding educator preparation programs for grades 6-12 geography, history, economics, and political science to replace ex... More... IA Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Iowa Studies S.B. 2320 Requires the department of cultural affairs to develop an Iowa studies professional development plan that includes professional development ... More... CA Vetoed 10/2005 P-12 S.B. 684 Social sciences curriculum. This bill would encourage a school district to provide instruction in social sciences that accurately reflects ... More... NY Signed into law 10/2005 P-12 Amistad Commission H.B. 6362 Establishes and creates the Amistad Commission to coordinate educational and other programs on slavery and African-American history. htt... More... CA Consideration of governor's veto pending 09/2005 P-12 Role of Filipinos in World War II A.B. 15 Allows social studies instruction in grades 7-12 to include instruction the role of Filipinos in World War II and that war, and encourages ... More... IL Signed into law 08/2005 P-12 Study of Acts of Genocide H.B. 312 Provides that in addition to the unit of instruction studying the events of the Holocaust, the curriculum of every public elementary school ... More... IL Signed into law 07/2005 P-12 Amistad Commission H.B. 383 Creates the Amistad Commission. Contains provisions concerning the membership and duties of the Commission. These duties include: (i) provi... More... MN to governor 07/2005 P-12 History education H.F. 141 - Multiple Components Districts may not censor or restrain instruction in American or Minnesota state history or heritage based on religious references in origina... More... WA To governor 04/2005 P-12 Tribal History H.B. 1495 Encourages that Washington's tribal history be taught in the common schools. Also adds a new section that requires, beginning in 2006, and a... More... AR Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 History In Service Training S.B. 187 Amends in-service training requirements for teachers of Arkansas history . http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2005/public/sb187.pdf... More... NM Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Public School Graduation Requirement H.B. 139 Requires one-half unit in New Mexico history for students entering the ninth grade beginning in the 2005-2006 school year as part of the uni... More... MD Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Task Force to Implement Holocaust, Genocide, Human Rights, and Tolerance Education S.B. 440 Establishes the Task Force to Implement Holocaust, Genocide, Human Rights, and Tolerance Education and requires the University System of Mar... More... GA Adopted 01/2005 P-12 Instruction in Citizenship, United States and Georgia History GAC 160-4-2-.07 Establishes rules regarding instruction in United States and Georgia history and government. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalse... More... CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Inclusion of Documents in History-Social Science Framework A.B. 2855 (multiple provisions) Section 2: Repeals the requirement that pupils in American government and civics courses required for high school graduation read and be tau... More... CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Historical Documents in Curriculum A.B. 2525 (multiple provisions) Requires the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission to ensure that specified historical documents are incorporated int... More... CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Courses of Study: Financial Planning A.B. 2435 Permits a school district to include instruction on personal finance, including budgeting, savings and credit, in social sciences courses fo... More... CA Vetoed 07/2004 P-12 Curriculum: The Role of Filipinos in World War II A.B. 2512 Encourages the instruction of World War II and the role of Filipinos in that war in social science instruction in grades 7 through 12, inclu... More... AZ Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Native American History S.B. 1365 Provides an additional duty of incorporating instruction of Native American history into appropriate existing curricula; provides that the i... More... CO Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Colorado History Day H.B. 1202 Promotes "Colorado History Day" (NHD), a year-long academic enrichment program that engages students in grades six to twelve in the process ... More... VA Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Substantial Amendments to the Standards of Learning H.B. 1014 Amends section 22.1-253.13:1 and 22.1-253.13:2 . Specifies that the Standards of Learning form the core of Virginia's educational program a... More... CA Signed into law 09/2003 P-12 History Curriculum A.B. 1537 Authorizes the inclusion of instruction on World War II and the American role in that war. Makes a finding and declaration that the current ... More... IL Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Asian History Requirement S.B. 890 Amends the School Code. Provides that the teaching of United States History shall include a study of the role and contributions of Asian Ame... More... CA Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Instruction on the Vietnam War A.B. 78 Expresses the encouragement of the Legislature for K-12 instruction to contain instruction on the Vietnam War, including the Secret War in L... More... CA Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Education: Instruction: World War II A.B. 399 Relates to public school instruction on World War II and the American role in that war; authorizes the instruction in the area of social sci... More... AL Issued 06/2003 P-12 Civics and American History Education Executive Order 2003-08 Designates the American Village Citizenship Trust Statewide Educational Center and Classroom Laboratory in American History, Civics, and Gov... More... CO Passed 06/2003 Postsec. Civic Education H.J.R. 1027 Concerns the importance of history and civic education at the college level. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/DC1C8... More... FL Rule Adoption 06/2003 P-12 Teacher Certification FAC 6A-4.0332 The current model of social science certification is replaced by a new comprehensive social science certification effective July 1, 2003. Th... More... WV Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Holocaust Education H.B. 2879, S.B. 510 Continues the West Virginia commission on holocaust education until the first day of July, 2009 unless sooner terminated, continued or reest... More... WV Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Holocaust Education H.B. 2879 Relates to continuation of the West Virginia commission on Holocaust education.... More... WV To governor 03/2003 P-12 Commission On Holocaust Education S.B. 510, H.B. 2879 Relates to continuing the commission on holocaust education; provides for reimbursement of reasonable expenses by members; authorizes the co... More... CA Signed into law 09/2002 P-12 Requires that social studies instruction contain instruction on World War II A.B. 2709 Requires that social studies instruction contain instruction on World War II and the American role in that war. Expresses the Legislature's ... More... CA Signed into law 09/2002 P-12 Holocaust Curriculum A.B. 2003 Declares the Legislature encourages the incorporation of survivor, rescuer and liberator testimony into the teaching of human rights, genoci... More... NJ Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Amistad Commission A.B. 1301 Establishes the Amistad Commission to coordinate educational and other programs on slavery and African-American history in public and nonpub... More... NC Signed into law 08/2001 P-12 State History and Geography H.B. 195 Session Law Number 363., Requires the public schools to provide courses of instruction on North Carolina history and geography to students i... More... NV Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Holocaust Education A.B. 520 Makes an appropriation to the Governor's Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust for the continuation of its educational pro... More... IL Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 History Standards S.B. 109 Amends the School Code; adds Hispanics to the list of the specific ethnic groups whose role and contributions to the history of this country... More... TX Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Celebrate Freedom Week H.B. 1776 The last full week of classes in September is designated as Celebrate Freedom Week in public schools. Celebrate Freedom Week may include ap... More... WV Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Holocaust Education Commission S.B. 647 Creates the Holocaust Education Commission, a permanent state commission which, as an organized body and on a continuous basis, will survey,... More... CA Vetoed 09/2000 P-12 Including Native History In the State's Standards S.B. 1439 Requires the State Department of Education to request proposals for the development of model curricula, aligned with state content standards... More... CA Signed into law 08/2000 P-12 Cesar Chavez Day S.B. 984 Chapter No.213, Requires the State Board of Education to adopt a model curriculum guide for use by public schools for exercises related to C... More... RI Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature 07/2000 P-12 Genocide, Slave Trade, Irish Famine, Holocaust H.B. 7397 Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop curricular material on genocide and human rights violations and iss... More... KY Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Ten Commandments and Other Historical documents S.J.R. 57 Requests the Kentucky Board Of Education to encourage teachers and school administrators to post and teach from historic displays of origina... More... VA Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Option for End-of-Course Tests H.B. 1020 Relates to social studies; requires the Board of Education, in prescribing the Standards of Learning assessments, to provide local school bo... More... KY Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Ten Commandments H.B. 662 Requires a liability insurer to pay according to the terms of the policy an insured who is sued for posting the Ten Commandments in a public... More... WA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 World War II Oral History Project H.B. 2418 Establishes a World War II oral history project in public schools.... More... WA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Japanese Ancestry H.B. 1572 Develops a grant program to fund public educational activities and development of educational materials to ensure that the events surroundin... More... VA Signed into law 02/2000 P-12 State History S.B. 114 Relates to history requirement in middle and high school; amends the requirement for study of documents of Virginia history and the United S... More...