Assigned to ED FOR
COMMITTEE
Assigned to ED FOR
COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session
schools; civics literacy state seal
Purpose
Establishes a State Seal of Civics Literacy Program (Program).
Background
The State Board of Education (SBE) establishes 22 credits as the minimum number of credits necessary for high school graduation. Three credits of social studies are required for graduation and must be divided as follows: 1) 1 credit of American history, including Arizona history; 2) 1 credit of world history or geography; 3) 0.5 credit of American government, including Arizona government; and 4) 0.5 credit of economics (A.A.C. R7-2-302). Students are also required to receive at least a 60 percent on a test that is identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in order to graduate from high school (A.R.S. § 15-701.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to:
a) establish the Program to recognize students who graduate high school and have attained a high level of proficiency in civics; and
b) create a State Seal of Civics Literacy (Seal) to be delivered to participating schools.
2. Allows any school district or charter school to voluntarily participate in the Program by notifying the SPI.
3. Directs the SBE to collaborate with Arizona State University's School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership to adopt a list of assessments using research-based methodology to determine a student's civics proficiency and allows the SBE to adopt rules for this purpose.
4. Requires participating school districts and charter schools to affix the Seal to the diplomas and note the receipt on transcripts for graduating students who:
a) complete all social studies graduation requirements with a 2.0 GPA or higher; and
b) demonstrate proficiency in civics by meeting the assessment requirements adopted by the SBE.
5. Terminates the Program on July 1, 2028.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 13, 2018
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