2021 -- S 0076 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE CIVIC LITERACY ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Cano, Lawson, Euer, Pearson, Miller, McCaffrey,
Sosnowski, Ruggerio, and Seveney

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2021

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-22-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 entitled "Curriculum

[See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read

as follows:

     16-22-2. Civics education.

     (a) The general assembly recognizes the importance of a citizenry well educated in the

principles of democracy as enunciated in the constitutions of the state of Rhode Island and the

United States. The general assembly directs the board of regents for elementary and secondary

education to develop and adopt a set of grade level standards K-12 in civics education no later than

August 31, 2007. These standards shall include, but not be limited to, the history of the state of

Rhode Island, representative government, the rights and duties of actively engaged citizenship, and

the principals of democracy. These civic education standards shall be used in the public schools of

this state beginning in kindergarten and continuing through to and including grade 12. No private

school or private instruction shall be approved for the purposes of chapter 19 of this title unless the

course of study shall make provision for instruction substantially equivalent to that required by this

chapter for public schools.

     (b) All middle and high school students attending public schools, or any other schools

managed and controlled by the state, shall demonstrate proficiency, as defined by the local school

district, in civics education that shall also satisfy at least half credit or course requirement in history

and social studies.

     (c) Each public school district shall provide not less than one student-led civics project for

students during either middle or high school; provided, however, that each such project shall be

consistent with the history and social studies standards and frameworks promulgated by the Rhode

Island board of education. Civics projects may be individual, small group or class wide, and

designed to promote a student's ability to:

     (1) Reason, make logical arguments and support claims using valid evidence; and

     (2) Demonstrate an understanding of the connections between federal, state and local

policies, including issues that may impact the student's community.

     (d) The department of education shall begin implementing subsections (b) and (c) of this

section for the 2022-2023 academic year.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE CIVIC LITERACY ACT

***

     This act would require that middle and high school students that attend public schools

demonstrate proficiency in civics education and would require public schools to provide not less

than one student-led civics project in either middle or high school consistent with history and social

studies frameworks promulgated by the Rhode Island board of education.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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