2019 -- S 0119

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LC000405

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM

     

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Cano, Lawson, Satchell, and Pearson

     Date Introduced: January 24, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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

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as follows:

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     16-22-2. Civics education Civics education standards and graduation requirement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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schools of this state beginning in kindergarten and continuing through to and including grade 12.

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No private school or private instruction shall be approved for the purposes of chapter 19 of this

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title unless the course of study shall make provision for instruction substantially equivalent to that

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required by this chapter for public schools.

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     (b) Commencing with the graduating class of 2020 and all graduating classes thereafter,

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all high school students attending public schools, or any other schools managed and controlled by

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the state, shall demonstrate proficiency, as defined by the local school district, in civics education

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that shall also satisfy at least one-half credit or course requirement in history and social studies.

 

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     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 -- CURRICULUM

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     This act would require that commencing with the graduating class of 2020 and all

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subsequent graduating classes thereafter, all high school students attending public schools shall

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fulfill at least one-half credit or course requirement in civics education.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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