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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
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SB 1572: public schools; civics instruction requirement
Sponsor: Senator Finchem, LD 1
Committee on Education
Overview
Requires public schools to observe Celebrate Freedom Week, during which public schools must include in each social studies course specified instruction and topics relating to civics.
History
The State Board of Education (SBE) must: 1) prescribe high school social studies academic standards that include American civics education and a comparative discussion of ideologies that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy; 2) include in the high school social studies competency requirements that, in order to graduate from high school or obtain a high school equivalency diploma, a student must correctly answer at least 70 questions on the civics test; 3) work with specified entities to develop civic education standards that school districts and charter schools must include in the high school course of study and competency requirements; 4) maintain a list of oral history resources to be used along with the civic education and social studies standards that provide portraits in patriotism; and 5) require students in the 4th-6th grades to recite a specified passage from the Declaration of Independence at the beginning of the day (A.R.S. §§ 15-203, 15-701.01, 15-718).
Schools must provide instruction in: 1) the essentials, sources and history of the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions; 2) American institutions and ideals; and 3) Arizona history. This instruction must be in accordance with the state course of study for at least one year in common school and high school grades (A.R.S. § 15-710).
September 25 is observed as Sandra Day O'Connor Civics Celebration Day. Public schools must dedicate a majority of the school day to civics education (A.R.S. §§ 1-319, 15-710.01).
Currently, SBE minimum course of study and competency requirements for common school grades require students to demonstrate competency in social studies, including civics. To graduate from high school, a student must successfully complete three credits in social studies, including one credit of American and Arizona history and one-half credit of American government, including civics and Arizona government (A.A.C. R7-2-301, R7-2-302).
Provisions
1. Requires each public school to observe Celebrate Freedom Week, during which the public school must include all the following in each social studies course:
a. for the 1st-12th grades, instruction on the original intent, meaning, importance and historical context of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights;
b. for the 1st-12th grades, instruction on the relationship between the ideas expressed in the Declaration of Independence and, in the history of the United States, the:
i. rich diversity of the people of the United States as a nation of immigrants;
ii. American Revolution;
iii. creation of the United States Constitution; and
iv. abolitionist movement; and
c. for the 3rd-12th grades, recitation by students of a specified passage of the Declaration of Independence. (Sec. 1)
2. Details exemptions for a student from the required recitation. (Sec. 1)
3. Authorizes SBE to adopt rules and policies to implement Celebrate Freedom Week requirements. (Sec. 1)
4. Requires SBE to ensure that public schools do not censor the founding documents to exclude religious references. (Sec. 1)
5. Defines Celebrate Freedom Week as the instructional week that includes September 27 and that is designated by the public school's governing body. (Sec. 1)
6. Cites this legislation as the Return to Civics Instruction Act. (Sec. 2)
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10. Initials CH/JD SB 1572
11. 3/6/2026 Page 0 Education
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