State SealARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES


 

HB 2561: schools; civics literacy state seal.

PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Boyer, LD 20

BILL STATUS: Caucus & COW

                ED: DPA 9-0-0-2

Legend:
ASU – Arizona State University
SBE – State Board of Education
SPI – Superintendent of Public Instruction
Amendments – BOLD and Stricken (Committee)

Abstract

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes)	     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes)	☐ Fiscal NoteRelating to establishing a State Seal of Civics Literacy.

Provisions

1.       Directs the SPI to establish a State Seal of Civics Literacy Program that recognizes public school graduates who have achieved a high level of civics proficiency. (Sec. 1)

2.       Instructs the SPI to create the seal to affix to diplomas and transcripts and deliver the seal to each participating public school. (Sec. 1)

3.       Permits school districts and charter schools to voluntarily participate by notifying the SPI and directs participants to identify qualifying students and award the seal. (Sec. 1)

4.       Directs SBE, in addition to Social Studies graduation requirements, to collaborate with the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership at ASU and other experts on civic knowledge and literacy at Arizona universities to adopt a list of proficiency tests using research-based methodology. (Sec. 1)(ED)

5.       Permits SBE to adopt necessary rules. (Sec. 1)

6.       Directs the seal to be awarded to students who complete all Social Studies graduation requirements with at least a 2.0 GPA and pass the adopted test. (Sec. 1)

7.       Sunsets the Program on July 1, 2028. (Sec. 1)

Current Law

To graduate from high school a student must successfully complete 22 credits, of which 3 are required to be in Social Studies (A.A.C. R7-2-302).  The required credits consist of one credit in American and Arizona history, one credit of world history and geography, half a credit of American and Arizona government and half a credit of economics.  In addition to the required credits, beginning in SY 2017 students are required to pass a test that is identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test (A.R.S. § 15-701.01).

 

 

 

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Fifty-third Legislature                  HB 2561

Second Regular Session                               Version 2: Caucus & COW

 

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