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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 385 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 603
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Tara T. Hong
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to enhancing civic education in Massachusetts public schools.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Tara T. Hong18th Middlesex1/8/2025Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex3/9/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk3/5/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 385 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 603
By Representative Hong of Lowell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 603) of Tara T.
Hong, Colleen M. Garry and Samantha Montaño relative to civic education in public schools.
Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to enhancing civic education in Massachusetts public schools.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. The fifteenth paragraph of section 1I of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as
2appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out clauses (l) and (m) and
3inserting in place thereof the following 3 clauses:-
4 (l) nutrition and wellness programs;
5 (m) genocide education programs; and
6 (n) civic education.
7 SECTION 2. Section 2 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
8amended by adding the following subsection:-
9 (e)(1) Subject to appropriation, all public high schools shall require students to complete
101 semester of the subject of civic education as a graduation requirement. The department shall
11establish a process for setting curriculum standards for the subject of civic education that will 2 of 3
12incorporate: (i) the principles and structure of the federal government of the United States and
13the government of the commonwealth; (ii) the rights and responsibilities of United States
14citizens, including the importance of voting and civic participation; (iii) the history and role of
15civic movements in the commonwealth and the United States; and (iv) opportunities for students
16to engage in community-based projects or civic activities.
17 (2) The curriculum standards for the subject of civic education established by the
18department shall include: (i) a standardized civic education curriculum to be implemented across
19public high schools that is developed and approved by the department; (ii) an inclusive
20curriculum that reflects the diverse histories and contributions of all communities in the
21commonwealth and in the United States; and (iii) guidance and resources provided by the
22department to public high schools to effectively implement the curriculum.
23 (3). The department shall work with public high schools and the high school voter
24challenge program established in section 26A of chapter 51 to encourage and facilitate voter
25registration for eligible students by: (i) providing information on voter registration and election
26participation to students; (ii) hosting voter registration drives on public high school campuses in
27collaboration with local election offices; and (iii) creating opportunities for students to
28participate in local civic and community engagement activities.
29 (4) The department shall publish the curriculum and implementation guidelines no later
30than 5 months before the start of each school year.
31 (5) The department shall prepare an annual report that includes, but is not limited to:
32 (i) the progress and outcomes of the civic education requirement; (ii) student engagement
33metrics; and (iii) the overall curriculum effectiveness. The department shall submit the annual 3 of 3
34report to the governor, the chairs of the joint committee on education and the offices of the house
35and senate clerk.
36 SECTION 3. Section 2 shall take effect for the school year beginning after July 1, 2026.