The proposed bill aims to establish the American Civics and History Act in West Virginia, which mandates the inclusion of specific civics and history instruction in public schools. Under the new article, students are required to receive at least one semester of instruction in U.S. history, state government, and American civics before completing the eighth and twelfth grades. The curriculum will cover essential topics such as the structure of American government, political philosophy, and a comparative analysis of various ideologies. Additionally, the West Virginia State Board of Education will oversee the development of course materials, ensuring they are accurate and suitable for educational purposes.

The bill also introduces accountability measures, including a civics test modeled after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services civics test, which will be administered to high school students starting in the 2025/2026 school year. Schools will be required to report aggregate data on test performance, while the West Virginia Department of Education will maintain a publicly accessible "Civic Education Scorecard." Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for the review and approval of instructional materials, ensuring they are free from errors and inaccuracies. Lastly, the act includes a severability clause, affirming that if any part of the legislation is deemed invalid, the remaining provisions will still stand.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-36-1, 18-36-2, 18-36-3, 18-36-4, 18-36-5