BILL REQ. #:  S-3581.1 

Read first time 01/11/2006.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to a mandatory high school civics requirement; adding a new section to chapter 28A.655 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that students need to know and understand the structure, workings, and roots of our state and nation's democratic institutions and traditions. The legislature further finds that studies on the historical and civics knowledge of America's students suggest that too few students are learning those lessons well. The United States department of education's national assessment of education progress shows that fewer than twenty-five percent of America's students are proficient in either history or civics. In addition, while most of the states have learning standards in the two subjects, only twelve states have enough depth and breadth in the standards to ensure that students will understand their civic responsibilities and opportunities once the students reach adulthood. The legislature intends to make it mandatory that all graduating students have at least one course in civics.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.655 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning with the graduating class of 2010, students must complete at least one course in civics. The superintendent of public instruction shall develop specific guidelines to implement this requirement.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, "civics" means the social science that analyzes our state's and nation's democratic institutions and traditions including the rights and duties of citizens.