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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
public schools; civics instruction requirement
Purpose
Requires each public school to observe Celebrate Freedom Week and include outlined civics instruction in each social studies course during Celebrate Freedom Week. Outlines administrative requirements for the State Board of Education (SBE) relating to Celebrate Freedom Week and exemptions to the Celebrate Freedom Week instruction requirements. Designates this legislation as the Return to Civics Instruction Act.
Background
The SBE must work with the Arizona State University School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, the University of Arizona Center for the Philosophy of Freedom and the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute for American Democracy to develop civic education standards that school districts and charter schools must include in curricula and criteria for high school graduation. The civic education standards must include instruction on: 1) the original intent of the founding documents and principles of the United States as found in source documents; and 2) the civic-minded expectations of an upright and desirable citizenry that recognizes and accepts responsibility for preserving and defending the blessings of liberty inherited from prior generations and secured by the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, the SBE must maintain a list of oral history resources that provide portraits in patriotism based on first-person accounts of victims of other nations' governing philosophies who can compare those philosophies with those of the United States (A.R.S. § 15-718).
Statute requires September 25 of each year to be observed as Sandra Day O'Connor Civics Celebration Day, a non-legal holiday. On Sandra Day O'Connor Civics Celebration Day, each public school must dedicate the majority of the school day to civics education (A.R.S. §§ 1-319 and 15-710.01). The Arizona Department of Education provides a list of instructional resources relating to the civic education that aligns with the SBE-prescribed academic standards for social studies, including resources for Sandra Day O'Connor Civics Celebration Day and Constitution Day (ADE).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires each public school to observe Celebrate Freedom Week and include the following in each social studies course during Celebrate Freedom Week:
a) for grades 1 through 12, instruction on the original intent, meaning, importance and historical context of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights;
b) for grades 1 through 12, instruction on the relationship between the ideas that are expressed in the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the following topics in U.S. history:
i. the rich diversity of the people of this country as a nation of immigrants;
ii. the American Revolution;
iii. the creation of the U.S. Constitution; and
iv. the abolitionist movement, including the relationship between the abolitionist movement and the U.S. Emancipation Proclamation and the women's suffrage movement; and
c) for grades 3 through 12, a recitation by students of a passage of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
2. Exempts a student from the requirement to participate in the U.S. Declaration of Independence recitation if:
a) the student's parent requests in writing that the student be excused;
b) the school determines that the student has a conscientious objection to the recitation; or
c) the student's parent is a representative of a foreign government to whom the U.S. government extends diplomatic immunity.
3. Requires the SBE to ensure public schools do not censor the U.S. Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights to exclude religious references.
4. Allows the SBE to adopt rules and policies to implement the Celebrate Freedom Week requirements.
5. Defines Celebrate Freedom Week as:
a) the instructional week that includes September 17; or
b) an instructional week designated by the governing body of the public school.
6. Designates this legislation as the Return to Civics Instruction Act.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 6, 2026
MH/SM/hk