1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; enacting the American Heritage
1.3 	Education in Minnesota Public Schools Act; proposing
1.4 	coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 120B.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [120B.25] AMERICAN HERITAGE EDUCATION.
1.7 	(a) School districts shall permit grade-level instruction
1.8 	to ensure students have the opportunity to read and study
1.9 	America's founding documents that provide an understanding of
1.10 	the principles, character, and world view of America's founders;
1.11 	including documents that contributed to the foundation or
1.12 	maintenance of America's representative republican form of
1.13 	limited government, the Bill of Rights, our free-market economic
1.14 	system, and patriotism.  Districts shall permit a principal or
1.15 	teacher to appropriately use, read, or post in a public school
1.16 	building, classroom, or at any public school event any excerpts
1.17 	or portions of the original source documents, writings,
1.18 	speeches, proclamations, or records relating to the history,
1.19 	heritage, or foundation of the United States or the state of
1.20 	Minnesota, including, but not limited to:
1.21 	(1) the Mayflower Compact;
1.22 	(2) the Declaration of Independence;
1.23 	(3) the Constitutions of the United States and the state of
1.24 	Minnesota;
1.25 	(4) the Northwest Ordinance of 1787;
2.1 	(5) the Federalist Papers;
2.2 	(6) the Pledge of Allegiance;
2.3 	(7) the national anthem;
2.4 	(8) Washington's farewell address to the nation;
2.5 	(9) Lincoln's Gettysburg address;
2.6 	(10) the acts and published records of Congress; and 
2.7 	(11) the United States Supreme Court decisions and records.
2.8 	(b) Districts may not censor or restrain instruction in
2.9 	American or Minnesota state history or heritage based on
2.10 	religious references in original source documents, writings,
2.11 	speeches, proclamations, or records described under paragraph
2.12 	(a).  These and any other materials must be used for educational
2.13 	purposes and not to establish any religion.
2.14 	(c) Students may voluntarily choose to read, write, share,
2.15 	report, or otherwise study a topic which is religious in nature
2.16 	provided other students are provided with the same opportunity
2.17 	to freely choose a topic.

2.18 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day
2.19 	following final enactment.

2.20 	Sec. 2. TITLE.
 2.21 	Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.25, shall be known as the
2.22 	American Heritage Education in Minnesota Public Schools Act.

2.23 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day
2.24 	following final enactment.