PRINTER'S NO. 1068
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.138
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BRENNAN, MAYES, SANCHEZ, WAXMAN, MADDEN, PROBST,
HILL-EVANS, PROKOPIAK, OTTEN, HANBIDGE, FREEMAN, PIELLI,
HARKINS, CERRATO, BURGOS, GIRAL, KHAN, BOROWSKI, DONAHUE,
MALAGARI, HOWARD, INGLIS, MERSKI, D. WILLIAMS, STEELE AND
BELLMON, MARCH 19, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 19, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study on the state of civic education in Pennsylvania and
develop recommendations on cost-efficient, feasible steps
that the Commonwealth can adopt to increase the accessibility
and quality of civic education opportunities for students .
WHEREAS, Civic engagement is critical to the functioning of
American democracy; and
WHEREAS, However, civic engagement has been declining in our
society in recent decades and there is a notable lack of civic
knowledge among the public; and
WHEREAS, According to a 2022 Annenberg Public Policy Center
survey, only 47% of Americans can name all three branches of
government and 26% are unable to name a single branch; and
WHEREAS, Further, government trust among the public has been
declining in recent decades, with 57% of those aged 18 to 24
reporting that they are losing faith in democracy and only 42%
expressing confidence in the democratic system; and
WHEREAS, Our education system builds a political culture and,
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this system is failing our children; and
WHEREAS, Proficiency in civics has been declining nationally,
with the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress,
otherwise known as the "Nation's Report Card," showing that only
14% of students reached at or above proficiency in history and
only 22% of students met this benchmark in civics; and
WHEREAS, In a 2021 report from the Thomas B. Fordham
Institute, Pennsylvania received a grade of "F" for the quality,
rigor and organization of both its civics and United States
history standards; and
WHEREAS, While Act 35 of 2018 requires schools to administer
a locally developed assessment of American history, government
and civics to students at least once during grades 7 through 12,
teachers across this Commonwealth who participated in focus
groups hosted by PA Civics during the 2024-2025 school year have
agreed that this requirement is inadequate in assessing
students' understanding of their rights and responsibilities
across the three pillars of quality civic education as defined
by the Department of Education: knowledge, skills and action;
and
WHEREAS, The Department of Education contends that it does
not have the standing to expand Act 35 of 2018 beyond the letter
of the law, which means it does not collect any of the civics
assessments used and cannot collect any additional data to
determine the quality of those assessments and what students are
actually learning; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania will be at the center of the nation's
celebrations for the 250th birthday of the United States in
2026; and
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30 WHEREAS, As our Commonwealth, the birthplace of American
democracy, takes part in this important celebration, this is a
valuable opportunity for Pennsylvania to become a national
leader in educating students about civics; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a study on the state of
civic education in Pennsylvania and develop recommendations on
cost-efficient, feasible steps that the Commonwealth can adopt
to increase the accessibility and quality of civic education
opportunities for students; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study include, at a minimum, all of the
following:
(1) A summary of assessments that education providers
currently offer to fulfill the requirements of Act 35 of 2018
and an analysis of the adequacy of these assessments based on
the Department of Education's three pillars of quality civic
education.
(2) An analysis of states which are regarded highly for
the quality of civic education programs offered to students
in kindergarten through grade 12 and the specific measurement
models and programs used by these states to effectively and
accurately measure student performance in civics.
(3) An analysis of the high-quality civic education
programs offered by other states and how these programs could
be successfully implemented in Pennsylvania to achieve the
Department of Education's three pillars of quality civic
education.
(4) Information regarding the importance of source
literacy and media literacy and high-quality methods utilized
by other states to provide instruction on these topics.
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30 (5) A summary of State and local standards,
requirements, best practices and methods that are available
in Pennsylvania that can be used to measure quality civic
education.
(6) Recommendations concerning increasing civic
engagement among students and encouraging positive behaviors,
including voting and volunteering;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report containing its findings and recommendations, including
any proposed statutory or regulatory changes, no later than 18
months after adoption of this resolution; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the report be submitted to all of the
following:
(1) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Education Committee of the Senate.
(2) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Education Committee of the House of Representatives.
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