SF 240

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 10/19/2021 04:01pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring a civics course as a graduation requirement;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 120B.021, subdivision 1; 120B.024,
subdivision 1; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 120B.02, subdivision
3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 120B.021, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Required academic standards.

(a) The following subject areas are
required for statewide accountability:

(1) language arts;

(2) mathematics;

(3) science;

(4) social studies, including history, geography, economics, and government and
citizenship that includes civics deleted text begin consistent with section 120B.02, subdivision 3 deleted text end ;

(5) physical education;

(6) health, for which locally developed academic standards apply; and

(7) the arts, for which statewide or locally developed academic standards apply, as
determined by the school district. Public elementary and middle schools must offer at least
three and require at least two of the following four arts areas: dance; music; theater; and
visual arts. Public high schools must offer at least three and require at least one of the
following five arts areas: media arts; dance; music; theater; and visual arts.

(b) For purposes of applicable federal law, the academic standards for language arts,
mathematics, and science apply to all public school students, except the very few students
with extreme cognitive or physical impairments for whom an individualized education
program team has determined that the required academic standards are inappropriate. An
individualized education program team that makes this determination must establish
alternative standards.

(c) The department must adopt the most recent SHAPE America (Society of Health and
Physical Educators) kindergarten through grade 12 standards and benchmarks for physical
education as the required physical education academic standards. The department may
modify and adapt the national standards to accommodate state interest. The modification
and adaptations must maintain the purpose and integrity of the national standards. The
department must make available sample assessments, which school districts may use as an
alternative to local assessments, to assess students' mastery of the physical education
standards beginning in the 2018-2019 school year.

(d) A school district may include child sexual abuse prevention instruction in a health
curriculum, consistent with paragraph (a), clause (6). Child sexual abuse prevention
instruction may include age-appropriate instruction on recognizing sexual abuse and assault,
boundary violations, and ways offenders groom or desensitize victims, as well as strategies
to promote disclosure, reduce self-blame, and mobilize bystanders. A school district may
provide instruction under this paragraph in a variety of ways, including at an annual assembly
or classroom presentation. A school district may also provide parents information on the
warning signs of child sexual abuse and available resources.

(e) District efforts to develop, implement, or improve instruction or curriculum as a
result of the provisions of this section must be consistent with sections 120B.10, 120B.11,
and 120B.20.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 120B.024, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Graduation requirements.

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end Students deleted text begin beginning 9th grade in the
2011-2012 school year and later deleted text end must successfully complete the following high school level
credits for graduation:

(1) four credits of language arts sufficient to satisfy all of the academic standards in
English language arts;

(2) three credits of mathematics, including an algebra II credit or its equivalent, sufficient
to satisfy all of the academic standards in mathematics;

(3) an algebra I credit by the end of 8th grade sufficient to satisfy all of the 8th grade
standards in mathematics;

(4) three credits of science, including at least one credit of biology, one credit of chemistry
or physics, and one elective credit of science. The combination of credits under this clause
must be sufficient to satisfy (i) all of the academic standards in either chemistry or physics
and (ii) all other academic standards in science;

(5) three and one-half credits of social studies, new text begin including one credit in civics in either
11th or 12th grade for students beginning 9th grade in the 2022-2023 school year and later,
and a combination of other credits new text end encompassing at least United States history, geography,
government and citizenship, world history, and economics sufficient to satisfy all of the
academic standards in social studies;

(6) one credit of the arts sufficient to satisfy all of the state or local academic standards
in the arts; and

(7) a minimum of seven elective credits.

deleted text begin (b) A school district is encouraged to offer a course for credit in government and
citizenship to 11th or 12th grade students who begin 9th grade in the 2020-2021 school year
and later, that satisfies the government and citizenship requirement in paragraph (a), clause
(5).
deleted text end

Sec. 3. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 120B.02, subdivision 3, new text end new text begin is repealed.
new text end

APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 21-00487

120B.02 EDUCATIONAL EXPECTATIONS AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR MINNESOTA'S STUDENTS.

Subd. 3.

Required knowledge and understanding of civics.

(a) For purposes of this subdivision, "civics test questions" means 50 of the 100 questions that, as of January 1, 2015, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services officers use to select the questions they pose to applicants for naturalization so the applicants can demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of United States history and government, as required by United States Code, title 8, section 1423. The Learning Law and Democracy Foundation, in consultation with Minnesota civics teachers, must select by July 1 each year 50 of the 100 questions under this paragraph to serve as the state's civics test questions for the proximate school year and immediately transmit the 50 selected civics test questions to the department and to the Legislative Coordinating Commission, which must post the 50 questions it receives on the Minnesota's Legacy website by August 1 of that year.

(b) A student enrolled in a public school must correctly answer at least 30 of the 50 civics test questions. A school or district may record on a student's transcript that the student answered at least 30 of 50 civics test questions correctly. A school or district may exempt a student with disabilities from this requirement if the student's individualized education program team determines the requirement is inappropriate and establishes an alternative requirement. A school or district may administer the civics test questions in a language other than English to students who qualify for English learner services.

(c) Schools and districts may administer civics test questions as part of the social studies curriculum. A district must not prevent a student from graduating or deny a student a high school diploma for failing to correctly answer at least 30 of 50 civics test questions.

(d) The commissioner and public schools and school districts must not charge students any fees related to this subdivision.