HB 381: Civics Education Amendments - Utah

Amended Excerpts 2/21/2025 15:02:763 → Amended 2/14/2025 10:02:461 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's civics education requirements for high school graduation and adult education programs. It replaces a mandatory civics test with a course requirement focused on American constitutional government and citizenship, while allowing alternative pathways like JROTC or verbal communication courses. The changes shift emphasis from testing to coursework and provide more flexibility in how students can meet graduation requirements.

Scope change

The bill expands graduation requirements to include a 3.5-unit social studies requirement with specific civics coursework, while removing the previous requirement for students to pass a basic civics test for high school diplomas. Adult education programs now require completion of the civics course instead of passing a test.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the mandatory basic civics test requirement for high school graduation and adult education secondary diplomas

Added a 3.5-unit social studies graduation requirement including at least 1.0 unit in American constitutional government and citizenship

Created new alternative pathways for meeting social studies requirements including JROTC participation and verbal communication courses focused on civic education

Changed adult education program requirements from passing a civics test to completing the American constitutional government and citizenship course

Removed alternate assessment provisions that allowed students to pass a civics test instead of completing coursework

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'adult education program' and 'basic civics test' to clarify program requirements

Amended 2/21/2025 15:02:763 → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This substitute bill modifies HB 381 to add ethnic studies requirements to Utah's graduation standards, adjust financial literacy language, remove a testing requirement, and extend a deadline for instructional materials recommendations. The changes expand the bill's scope by adding new curriculum requirements while removing the basic civics test graduation requirement that was in the original version.

Scope change

The bill now includes additional code sections (53E-4-204.1) for ethnic studies requirements and removes the basic civics test graduation requirement that was present in the original version.

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 53E-4-204.1 requiring ethnic studies to be incorporated into core standards for Utah public schools, including consultation with the Ethnic Studies Commission before implementation.

Removed the requirement that public school students graduate on or after January 1, 2016 must pass a basic civics test as a condition for receiving a high school diploma.

Modified financial literacy language by removing the word 'and' from the end of the financial literacy requirement in Section 53E-4-204(1)(c).

Modified Section 53E-4-204(1)(d)(iii) by removing the word 'and' before the science unit requirement.

TIMELINE

Changed the highlighted provisions to indicate an extension of a deadline for certain instructional materials recommendations instead of adding a social studies graduation requirement.

TECHNICAL

Added Utah Code Section 53E-4-204.1 to the list of amended sections and removed Section 53E-4-204.1 from the repealer section.

Amended 2/14/2025 10:02:461 → Amended 2/21/2025 15:02:763 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's civics education requirements by adding a new social studies graduation requirement, modifying the existing civics test requirement for high school students, and creating a new course standard for American constitutional government and citizenship. The changes aim to strengthen civics education while providing alternatives to the basic civics test for students who complete the new constitutional government course.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of graduation requirements to include a specific social studies component and modifies the applicability of the civics test requirement for public school students.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new social studies graduation requirement of at least 3.5 units, including at least 1.0 unit in American constitutional government and citizenship.

Enacted a new section requiring instruction on American constitutional government and citizenship beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

Modified the basic civics test requirement for public school students to allow an exemption if the student completes the new American constitutional government and citizenship course.

Removed the civics test requirement for public school students who graduated on or after January 1, 2016, from the general requirement language.

TECHNICAL

Made technical changes to the financial literacy requirement by removing the 'and' before the test-out option and correcting punctuation in the science unit requirement.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the bill to July 1, 2025, and specified that the new constitutional government course instruction begins in the 2026-2027 school year.

Amended Excerpts 2/14/2025 10:02:461 → Amended Excerpts 2/21/2025 15:02:763 · 1 edit

MINOR

The amendment adds a new provision allowing up to 0.5 units to be earned by students enrolled in adult education programs who pass a basic civics test as a condition for receiving an adult education secondary diploma, provided they have completed the American constitutional government and citizenship course. This change expands eligibility for credit units to include adult education students meeting specific civics and citizenship requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include adult education students in the credit unit earning provisions, previously limited to other student categories.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for adult education students to earn up to 0.5 units by passing a basic civics test as a condition for receiving an adult education secondary diploma, contingent on completing the American constitutional government and citizenship course.

Enrolled → Amended Excerpts 2/14/2025 10:02:461 · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to clarify how social studies graduation requirements can be met, specifically adding AP U.S. Government, AP Comparative Government, and concurrent enrollment government courses as options to satisfy the 1.0 unit requirement in American constitutional government and citizenship. The amendment also reorganized the text to improve clarity while maintaining the same substantive requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Added AP U.S. Government, AP Comparative Government, and concurrent enrollment government courses as specific options that can satisfy the 1.0 unit requirement for American constitutional government and citizenship in the social studies graduation requirement.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the text structure by splitting the social studies requirement into two subsections (1)(e)(i) and (1)(e)(ii) for better clarity and readability.

Introduced → Enrolled · 6 edits · Mar 24, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah's graduation requirements to add a new social studies course focused on American constitutional government and citizenship, while removing a previous civics test requirement for high school graduates. The changes expand educational standards to include specific constitutional topics and primary source documents, and extend a deadline for instructional materials recommendations.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of required social studies education from a general civics test to a comprehensive course on American constitutional government and citizenship, while removing the mandatory civics testing requirement for graduation.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new social studies graduation requirement of 3.5 units including at least 1.0 unit in American constitutional government and citizenship as described in Section 53E-4-205.2

Enacted new Section 53E-4-205.2 requiring instruction on American constitutional government and citizenship beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, covering founding principles, the Constitution, amendments, and state/local self-government

Repealed Section 53E-4-205.1 which required students to pass a basic civics test as a condition for receiving a high school diploma

Added new Section 53E-4-204.1 establishing ethnic studies core standards and curriculum requirements for Utah public schools

TIMELINE

Extended deadline for certain instructional materials recommendations and set effective date of July 1, 2025

TECHNICAL

Added Senate Sponsor Lincoln Fillmore and multiple cosponsors to the enrolled copy

Civics Education Amendments

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