2025 -- S 0638
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LC002270
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM
Introduced By: Senators Euer, Gallo, Pearson, Acosta, Kallman, Zurier, Urso,
Appollonio, Patalano, and Thompson
Date Introduced: March 07, 2025
Referred To: Senate Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 16-22-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-22 entitled "Curriculum 1
[See Title 16 Chapter 97 — the Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended to read 2
as follows: 3
16-22-2. Civics education. 4
(a) The general assembly recognizes the importance of a citizenry well educated in the 5
principles of democracy as enunciated in the constitutions of the state of Rhode Island and the 6
United States. The general assembly directs the board of regents for elementary and secondary 7
education to develop and adopt a set of grade level standards K-12 in civics education no later than 8
August 31, 2007. These standards shall include, but not be limited to, the history of the state of 9
Rhode Island, representative government, the rights and duties of actively engaged citizenship, and 10
the principals of democracy, and media literacy. These civic education standards shall be used in 11
the public schools of this state beginning in kindergarten and continuing through to and including 12
grade 12. No private school or private instruction shall be approved for the purposes of chapter 19 13
of this title unless the course of study shall make provision for instruction substantially equivalent 14
to that required by this chapter for public schools. 15
(b) All middle and high school students attending public schools, or any other schools 16
managed and controlled by the state, shall demonstrate proficiency, as defined by the local school 17
district, in civics education that shall also satisfy half credit or course requirement in history and 18
social studies. 19
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(c) Each public school district shall provide not less than one student-led civics project for 1
students during either middle or high school; provided, however, that each such project shall be 2
consistent with the history and social studies standards and frameworks promulgated by the Rhode 3
Island board of education. Civics projects may be individual, small group, or class wide, and 4
designed to promote a student’s ability to: 5
(1) Reason, make logical arguments, and support claims using valid evidence; and 6
(2) Demonstrate an understanding of the connections between federal, state, and local 7
policies, including issues that may impact the student’s community. 8
(d) The department of education shall begin implementing subsections (b) and (c) of this 9
section for the 2022-2023 academic year. 10
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 11
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CURRICULUM
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This act would develop and adopt a set of grade level standards in civics education for 1
kindergarten through grade twelve (grades K-12) that teaches the history of the State of Rhode 2
Island, representative government, the rights and duties of actively engaged citizenship, principals 3
of democracy, and media literacy. 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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LC002270
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