§ 16-22-2 Civics education. –
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.
(G.L. 1909, ch. 67, § 17; P.L. 1922, ch. 2195, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch.
70, § 30; P.L. 1926, ch. 838, § 1; P.L. 1929, ch. 1400, § 1;
G.L. 1938, ch. 177, § 10; impl. am. P.L. 1951, ch. 2752, § 21; G.L.
1956, § 16-22-2; P.L. 2005, ch. 177, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 180, §
1.)