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 include civics instruction in 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, which DPI will compile and submit to the legislature.

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, such as 115.28 (55v) and 121.02 (1) (L) 9., which outline the civics education curriculum and reporting requirements. It amends sections 118.165 (1) (d) and 118.33 (1) (a) 1. b. to incorporate these changes, ensuring that civics education is a fundamental part of the educational framework in Wisconsin. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

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