ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

 

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

HB 2725: pledge of allegiance; parental notification

S/E: competency requirements; social studies; civics

Sponsor: Representative Lopez, LD 16

Committee on Education

Summary of the Strike-Everything Amendment to HB 2725

Overview

Adds, to the course of study and competency requirements for the promotion of students from the 8th grade, a requirement that each student complete at least three social studies course credits in the 6th-8th grades, including one civics education course credit.

History

The State Board of Education (SBE) must prescribe a minimum course of study incorporating the SBE-adopted academic standards to be taught in common schools. SBE must also prescribe competency requirements for the promotion of students from the 3rd and 8th grades that incorporate the academic standards in at least the areas of reading, writing, math, science and social studies. A school district governing board is required to prescribe curricula that includes the academic standards in these subject areas, as well as the criteria for the promotion of students from grade to grade. The criteria for promotion must include accomplishment of the academic standards in at least reading, writing, math, science and social studies as determined by district assessment (A.R.S. § 15-701).

Currently, SBE minimum course of study and competency requirements for common school grades require students to demonstrate competency in: 1) English language arts; 2) math; 3) science; 4) social studies, including civics and instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides; 5) the arts; and 6) health/physical education. A student must demonstrate competency, as defined by the local governing board, of the SBE-adopted academic standards for the 8th grade in these areas to be promoted (A.A.C. R7-2-301).

Provisions

1.   Requires SBE, in adopting course of study and competency requirements for the promotion of students from the 8th grade, to include a requirement that each student successfully complete at least three social studies course credits in the 6th-8th grades, including at least one civics education course credit. (Sec. 1, 2)

2.   Specifies the required civics education must include instruction on the:

a)   roles and responsibilities of federal, state and local governments;

b)   structures and functions of the legislative, executive and judicial branches; and

c) meaning and significance of historical documents, including the Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution. (Sec. 2)

3.   Allows a student who transfers into a public school during the second semester of the 8th grade to be promoted from the 8th grade without successfully completing at least one civics education course credit if the student:

a)   transfers from another state or country or from a private school or homeschool in Arizona;

b)   successfully completed at least three social studies course credits, or the equivalent; and

c) received instruction on American civics education in any of the 6th-8th grades. (Sec. 2)

d)    

e)    

f) ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

g)                           HB 2725

h)   Initials CH     Page 0 Education

i)  

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