Senate Bill 30 mandates that starting in the 2027-28 school year, all school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice program must incorporate civics education into their curricula. This instruction will cover essential topics such as the rights and responsibilities of citizens, civic engagement, advocacy processes, and comparisons of different governing philosophies, including communism and socialism against the principles of democracy. Additionally, schools will be required to report annually to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) on how they are fulfilling these civics education requirements.

The bill also modifies existing graduation requirements by specifying that high school students must earn at least 0.5 credits in civics as part of their social studies credits, which will first apply to students graduating in the 2030-31 school year. The legislation includes several new sections to the statutes that outline these requirements and the reporting obligations for schools. Notably, it amends sections related to the curriculum and reporting for both charter and private schools, ensuring that civics education is a fundamental component of the educational programs offered.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 118.165(1)(d), 118.165, 118.33(1)(a)1.b, 118.33