ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: ED DP 4-3-0-0 | 3rd Read 17-12-1-0

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SB 1133: history of communism; instruction requirement

Sponsor: Senator Rogers, LD 7

Committee on Education

Overview

Expands the required comparative discussion of political ideologies that conflict with the U.S.'s founding principles to comparative politics. Requires instruction on comparative politics that includes prescribed information relating to communism.

History

The high school social studies academic standards must include American civics education. The State Board of Education (SBE), in conjunction with other specified entities, is required to develop civic education standards that school districts and charter schools must include in the American civics education requirement. SBE must also establish and maintain a list of oral history resources to be used along with the civic education standards and social studies standards 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 U.S. (A.R.S. §§ 15-701.01 and 15-718).

Laws 2022, Chapter 303 added, to the high school social studies academic standards, a comparative discussion of political ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism, that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy that are essential to the U.S.'s founding principles. SBE is not required to include the comparative discussion of political ideologies in the high school social studies academic standards nor develop the civic education standards until it next updates the social studies standards.  

Provisions

1. Broadens, in the high school social studies standards, the comparative discussion of political ideologies that conflict with the founding principles of the U.S. to comparative politics. (Sec. 1)

2. Instructs SBE, in adopting high school course of study and competency requirements, to require that comparative politics include age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate instruction on the:

a) history of communism in the U.S. and domestic communist movements;

b) atrocities committed in foreign countries by communist regimes and proponents of communism;

c) increasing threat of communism in the U.S. and in countries that are or were allied with the U.S. during the 20th and 21st centuries;

d) economic, industrial and political events that preceded or anticipated historical communist revolutions; and

e) the communist policies of Cuba and the spread of communist ideologies throughout Latin America. (Sec. 2)

3. Incorporates the comparative discussion of political ideologies that conflict with the U.S.'s founding principles in the required comparative politics instruction. (Sec. 2)

4. Details the historical events and countries that must be included in the comparative politics instruction. (Sec. 2)

5. Allows SBE, in adopting the required comparative politics instruction, to consult with:

a) victims of communism; and

b) state or nationally recognized organizations dedicated to the victims of communism. (Sec. 2)

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f)                         SB 1133

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