25 LC 49 2312
House Bill 706
By: Representatives Adesanya of the 43
rd
, McQueen of the 61
st
, Olaleye of the 59
th
, Dawson
of the 65
th
, and Cannon of the 58
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
1
relating to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for coursework and2
educational programs and activities on the history of Black Americans through the history3
of the United States and their contributions to American society; to provide for related4
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the8
"Quality Basic Education Act," is amended in Part 2, relating to competencies and core9
curriculum, by revising subsections (c) and (e) Code Section 20-2-142.1, relating to10
coursework in the founding philosophy and principles of the United States of America, as11
follows:12
"(c) Each local board of education may require all students, as a condition of graduation,13
during their ninth through twelfth grade years to complete and pass a separate semester14
course covering the following founding philosophy and principles of the United States of15
America:16
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(1) America's founding philosophy, to include at least the following:
17
(A) As articulated in the Declaration of Independence the foundational idea of the18
Creator-endowed
Creator endowed unalienable rights of the people;19
(B) The purpose of limited government, which is to protect the unalienable rights of20
the people and to protect the people from violence and fraud;21
(C) The structure of government, separation of powers, and checks and balances; and22
(D) The rule of law, with frequent and free elections in a representative government23
which governs by majority vote within a constitutional framework;24
(2) America's founding principles, to include at least the following:25
(A) Federalism-government as close to the people as possible, limited federal26
government, and strong state and local government;27
(B) Freedoms of speech, press, religion, and peaceful assembly guaranteed by the Bill28
of Rights;29
(C) Rights to private property and freedom of individual enterprise;30
(D) The innocence of any crime until proven guilty, with right of habeas corpus, and31
no unreasonable searches, seizures, or cruel and unusual punishment;32
(E) A virtuous and moral people educated in the philosophy and principles of33
government for a free people;34
(F) The right to a speedy trial by a jury of peers;35
(G) The principles of economy in spending, constitutional limitations on government36
power to tax and spend, and prompt payment of public debt;37
(H) Economic system of money with intrinsic value;38
(I) Equality before the law and due process of law with grand jury indictment for39
capital crimes before holding a person to account;40
(J) The right of people to keep and bear arms, strong defense capability, supremacy of41
civil authority over military;42
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(K) Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with
43
none;44
(L) All laws concise and understandable by the people and not ex post facto laws;45
(M) Eternal vigilance by 'We the People'; and46
(N) Founding documents,
including the Declaration of Independence, the United States47
Constitution, and the Federalist Papers; and48
(3) Transformational movements in American history, to include at least the following:49
(A) The antislavery movement;50
(B) The Civil Rights movement;51
(C) Women's suffrage;52
(D) The contributions of immigrants to American society; and53
(E) The history of the Native American population; and54
(F) The history of Black Americans, including both the struggles and the triumphs of55
Black Americans throughout the history of the United States and the contributions of56
Black Americans to American society."57
"(e) This Code section shall apply beginning in school year 2017-2018 2025-2026."58
SECTION 2.59
Said article is further amended in Part 14, relating to other educational programs, by revising60
Code Section 20-2-308, which is reserved, as follows:61
"20-2-308.62
Each local education agency, as such term is defined in Code Section 20-2-167.1, shall63
require each school it operates to conduct educational programs and activities equal to at64
least one class period addressing the history of Black Americans, including both the65
struggles and the triumphs of Black Americans throughout the history of the United States66
and the contributions of Black Americans to American society. Schools are encouraged67
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to focus educational programs and activities on the topics provided for in this Code section68
during the month of February. Reserved."69
SECTION 3.70
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.71
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