Chapter 180

2005 -- H 5748 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 07/06/05

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM

Introduced By: Representatives Story, Crowley, McNamara, Lewiss, and Naughton

Date Introduced: February 17, 2005

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" is hereby amended to read as follows:

16-22-2. Courses in history and government. –Civics education. -- A course of study

on the principles of popular and representative government as enunciated in the Constitution of

Rhode Island and the Constitution of the United States shall be taught in all the public schools of

this state. The course of study shall be prescribed by the department of elementary and secondary

education. Commencing with the fourth grade in elementary schools, instruction shall be given in

the history and government of Rhode Island, and in every high school thorough instruction shall

be given in the Constitution and government of Rhode Island and in the Constitution and

government of the United States. 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.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.     

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LC02290/SUB A

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