This bill proposes to amend the Arizona Revised Statutes by adding a new section, 15-710.03, which mandates that each public school observe "celebrate freedom week." During this week, schools are required to provide instruction for grades one through twelve on the original intent and significance of foundational documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, as well as their historical context. Additionally, the bill specifies that students in grades three through twelve must recite the Declaration of Independence, with provisions allowing for exemptions based on parental requests, conscientious objections, or if the student's parent is a representative of a foreign government with diplomatic immunity.

Furthermore, the bill empowers the state board of education to adopt rules for implementation and ensures that public schools do not censor the founding documents to exclude religious references. The term "celebrate freedom week" is defined to either coincide with the week of September 17 or be designated by the governing body of the public school. The new section will be officially titled the "Return to Civics Instruction Act."

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-710.03