Utah 2025 Regular Session

Utah House Bill HB0381 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	Enrolled Copy H.B. 381
	1	+	03-05 09:44 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 381
	2	+	Lincoln Fillmore proposes the following substitute bill:
2	3		1
3	4		Civics Education Amendments
4	5		2025 GENERAL SESSION
5	6		STATE OF UTAH
6	7		Chief Sponsor: Douglas R. Welton
7	8		Senate Sponsor: Lincoln Fillmore
8		-
9		-	Cosponsor: Katy Hall Michael J. Petersen
10		-
11		-	Tiara Auxier Jon Hawkins Candice B. Pierucci
12		-
13		-	Jefferson S. Burton Sahara Hayes Jake Sawyer
14		-
15		-	Tyler Clancy Ken Ivory David Shallenberger
16		-
17		-	Paul A. Cutler Michael L. Kohler Lisa Shepherd
18		-
19		-	Jennifer Dailey-Provost Jason B. Kyle Andrew Stoddard
20		-
21		-	Ariel Defay Trevor Lee Jason E. Thompson
22		-
23		-	Rosalba Dominguez Anthony E. Loubet Raymond P. Ward
24		-
25		-	Joseph Elison Carol S. Moss Stephen L. Whyte
26		-
27		-	Doug Fiefia Doug Owens
28		-
29		-	Matthew H. Gwynn Karen M. Peterson
30	9		2
31	10
32	11		3
33	12		LONG TITLE
34	13		4
35	14		General Description:
36	15		5
37	16		This bill amends certain graduation requirements.
38	17		6
39	18		Highlighted Provisions:
40	19		7
41	20		This bill:
42	21		8
43	22		▸ adds a social studies graduation requirement;
44	23		9
45	24		▸ requires certain social studies related instruction;
46	25		10
47	26		▸ extends a deadline for certain instructional materials recommendations;
48	27		11
49	28		▸ removes a testing requirement;
50	29		12
51	30		▸ provides for alternatives to portions of certain graduation requirements; and
52	31		13
53		-	▸ makes technical changes. ~~H.B. 381 Enrolled Copy~~
	32	+	▸ makes technical changes.
54	33		14
55	34		Money Appropriated in this Bill:
56	35		15
57	36		None
58	37		16
59	38		Other Special Clauses:
60	39		17
61	40		This bill provides a special effective date.
62	41		18
63	42		Utah Code Sections Affected:
64	43		19
65	44		AMENDS:
66	45		20
67	46		53E-4-204, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapters 346, 527
68	47		21
69	48		53E-4-204.1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 20
70	49		22
71	50		53E-4-205, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 114
72	51		23
73	52		ENACTS:
74	53		24
75	54		53E-4-205.2, Utah Code Annotated 1953
76	55		25
77	56		REPEALS:
78	57		26
79	58		53E-4-205.1, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2020, Third Special Session, Chapter 10
80	59		27
81	60
82	61		28
83	62		Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
	63	+	1st Sub. H.B. 381 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 381 03-05 09:44
84	64		29
85	65		Section 1. Section 53E-4-204 is amended to read:
86	66		30
87	67		53E-4-204 . Standards and graduation requirements.
88	68		31
89	69		(1) The state board shall establish rigorous core standards for Utah public schools and
90	70		32
91	71		graduation requirements under Section 53E-3-501 for grades 9 through 12 that:
92	72		33
93	73		(a) are consistent with state law and federal regulations;
94	74		34
95	75		(b) use competency-based standards and assessments;
96	76		35
97	77		(c) include instruction that stresses general financial literacy from basic budgeting to
98	78		36
99	79		financial investments, including bankruptcy education and a general financial literacy
100	80		37
101	81		test-out option;[ and]
102	82		38
103	83		(d) include graduation requirements in language arts, mathematics, and science that
104	84		39
105	85		exceed:
106	86		40
107	87		(i) 3.0 units in language arts including up to 0.5 units emphasizing verbal
108	88		41
109	89		communication completed in a course or a school sponsored activity;
110	90		42
111	91		(ii) 2.0 units in mathematics; and
112	92		43
113	93		(iii) and 2.0 units in science[.] ; and
114	94		44
115	95		(e) include a graduation requirement in social studies that is equal to or exceeds 3.5
116	96		45
117	97		units, including at least 1.0 unit in American constitutional government and
118	98		46
119	99		citizenship as described in Section 53E-4-205.2;
120	100		47
121	101		(f) ensure up to 0.5 units described in Subsection (1)(e) may be earned by:
122		-	- 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 381
123	102		48
124	103		(i) completing a course or a school sponsored activity emphasizing verbal
125	104		49
126	105		communication provided that a significant portion of the course or activity is
127	106		50
128	107		dedicated to civic education, including:
129	108		51
130	109		(A) policy analysis;
131	110		52
132	111		(B) governmental systems; and
133	112		53
134	113		(C) civic engagement; or
135	114		54
136	115		(ii) participation in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps described in 10 U.S.C
137	116		55
138	117		Sec. 2031.
139	118		56
140	119		(2) The state board shall establish competency-based standards and assessments for elective
141	120		57
142	121		courses.
143	122		58
144	123		(3) The state board shall study requiring all LEAs to issue a high school diploma to students
145	124		59
146	125		who receive:
147	126		60
148	127		(a) an associate's degree with at least 60 credit hours from an accredited post-secondary
149	128		61
150	129		institution; or
151	130		62
152	131		(b) an industry certification with at least 500 hours of instruction from a business, trade
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153	133		63
154	134		association, or other industry group in accordance with Section 53E-3-501.
155	135		64
156	136		Section 2. Section 53E-4-204.1 is amended to read:
157	137		65
158	138		53E-4-204.1 . Ethnic studies core standards and curriculum requirements.
159	139		66
160	140		(1) As used in this section:
161	141		67
162	142		(a) "Core standards for Utah public schools" or "core standards" means the standards the
163	143		68
164	144		state board establishes as described in Section 53E-4-202.
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166	146		(b) "Ethnic studies" means the interdisciplinary social and historical study of how
167	147		70
168	148		different populations have experienced and participated in building the United States
169	149		71
170	150		of America, including the study of the culture, history, and contributions of Utahns of
171	151		72
172	152		diverse ethnicities.
173	153		73
174	154		(c) "Ethnic Studies Commission" means the Ethnic Studies Commission created in
175	155		74
176	156		Section 63C-28-201.
177	157		75
178	158		(d) "Utahns of diverse ethnicities" means individuals who are residents of Utah and:
179	159		76
180	160		(i) Native American;
181	161		77
182	162		(ii) Alaska Native;
183	163		78
184	164		(iii) Native Hawaiian;
185	165		79
186	166		(iv) Pacific Islander;
187	167		80
188	168		(v) Hispanic or Latino;
189	169		81
190	170		(vi) Black or African American;
191		-	- 3 - H.B. 381 Enrolled Copy
192	171		82
193	172		(vii) Asian or Asian American; or
194	173		83
195	174		(viii) from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
196	175		84
197	176		(2)(a) The state board shall incorporate ethnic studies into the core standards for Utah
198	177		85
199	178		public schools.
200	179		86
201	180		(b) Before the state board takes formal action to incorporate ethnic studies into the core
202	181		87
203	182		standards, the state board shall:
204	183		88
205	184		(i) consult with the Ethnic Studies Commission; and
206	185		89
207	186		(ii) submit the proposed core standards incorporating ethnic studies to the Ethnic
208	187		90
209	188		Studies Commission for review and recommendations.
210	189		91
211	190		(3) In incorporating ethnic studies into the core standards, the state board shall consider, at
212	191		92
213	192		a minimum:
214	193		93
215	194		(a) existing core standards that increase cultural awareness of, and focus on the character
216	195		94
217	196		traits described in Section 53G-10-204 for, all Utah communities;
218	197		95
219	198		(b) opportunities to recognize and incorporate into the ethnic studies core standards the
220	199		96
221	200		histories, contributions, and perspectives of Utahns of diverse ethnicities; and
	201	+	- 3 - 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 381 03-05 09:44
222	202		97
223	203		(c) recommendations of the Ethnic Studies Commission.
224	204		98
225	205		(4) Subject to legislative appropriations, the state board shall provide funding for
226	206		99
227	207		professional learning in ethnic studies for teachers.
228	208		100
229	209		(5)(a) By December 31, [2025] 2027, an LEA shall select curriculum and instructional
230	210		101
231	211		materials for teaching ethnic studies to students in kindergarten through grade 12 that:
232	212		102
233	213		(i) align with the core standards incorporating ethnic studies described in this section;
234	214		103
235	215		and
236	216		104
237	217		(ii) are integrated with regular school work.
238	218		105
239	219		(b) An LEA shall implement an ethnic studies curriculum that, at a minimum:
240	220		106
241	221		(i) focuses on shared identity and honoring unique cultural differences, including:
242	222		107
243	223		(A) that each individual student has unique characteristics;
244	224		108
245	225		(B) the common elements that unite Utahns; and
246	226		109
247	227		(C) respect for distinct socio-cultural identities; and
248	228		110
249	229		(ii) includes themes including cultural histories within the context of United States
250	230		111
251	231		history and global history.
252	232		112
253	233		(c) An LEA shall:
254	234		113
255	235		(i) modify or revise as needed the ethnic studies instructional materials and
256	236		114
257	237		curriculum the LEA selects as described in Subsection (5)(a), to ensure alignment
258	238		115
259	239		with core standards incorporating ethnic studies; and
260		-	- 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 381
261	240		116
262	241		(ii) submit a report to the state board that provides evidence that the LEA is
263	242		117
264	243		complying with the requirements of Subsections (5)(a) and (b).
265	244		118
266	245		(d) In fulfilling the requirements of this section, an LEA may offer a course on ethnic
267	246		119
268	247		studies.
269	248		120
270	249		(6) The state board shall, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
271	250		121
272	251		Rulemaking Act, make rules:
273	252		122
274	253		(a) to develop guidelines and methods for LEAs to more fully incorporate ethnic studies
275	254		123
276	255		into other core standards for Utah public schools courses; and
277	256		124
278	257		(b) for the report described in Subsection (5)(c).
279	258		125
280	259		(7) The guidelines and methods described in Subsection (6)(a) may not change:
281	260		126
282	261		(a) the number of instructional hours required for elementary and secondary students; or
283	262		127
284	263		(b) the number of instructional hours dedicated to the existing curriculum.
285	264		128
286	265		Section 3. Section 53E-4-205 is amended to read:
287	266		129
288	267		53E-4-205 . American civics education initiative for adult education.
289	268		130
290	269		(1) As used in this section:
	270	+	- 4 - 03-05 09:44 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 381
291	271		131
292	272		(a) "Adult education program" means an organized educational program below the
293	273		132
294	274		postsecondary level, other than a regular full-time K-12 secondary education
295	275		133
296	276		program, provided by an LEA or nonprofit organization that provides the opportunity
297	277		134
298	278		for an adult to further the adult's high school level education.
299	279		135
300	280		(b) "Basic civics test" means a test that includes 50 of the questions on the civics test
301	281		136
302	282		form used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services:
303	283		137
304	284		(i) to determine that an individual applying for United States citizenship meets the
305	285		138
306	286		basic citizenship skills specified in 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1423; and
307	287		139
308	288		(ii) in accordance with 8 C.F.R. Sec. 312.2.
309	289		140
310	290		(2)[(a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the ] The state board shall require[:]
311	291		141
312	292		[(i) a public school student who graduates on or after January 1, 2016, to pass a basic
313	293		142
314	294		civics test as a condition for receiving a high school diploma; and]
315	295		143
316	296		[(ii)] a student enrolled in an adult education program to pass a basic civics test as a
317	297		144
318	298		condition for receiving an adult education secondary diploma.
319	299		145
320	300		[(b) The state board may require a public school student to pass an alternate assessment
321	301		146
322	302		instead of a basic civics test if the student qualifies for an alternate assessment, as
323	303		147
324	304		defined in state board rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
325	305		148
326	306		Administrative Rulemaking Act.]
327	307		149
328	308		(3) An individual who correctly answers a minimum of 35 out of the 50 questions on a
329		-	- 5 - H.B. 381 Enrolled Copy
330	309		150
331	310		basic civics test passes the test and an individual who correctly answers fewer than 35
332	311		151
333	312		out of 50 questions on a basic civics test does not pass the test.
334	313		152
335	314		(4) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
336	315		153
337	316		state board shall make rules that:
338	317		154
339	318		[(a) require an LEA that serves secondary students to administer a basic civics test or
340	319		155
341	320		alternate assessment to a public school student enrolled in the LEA;]
342	321		156
343	322		[(b)] (a) require an adult education program provider to administer a basic civics test to
344	323		157
345	324		an individual who intends to receive an adult education secondary diploma; and
346	325		158
347	326		[(c)] (b) allow an individual to take a basic civics test as many times as needed in order
348	327		159
349	328		to pass the test[; and] .
350	329		160
351	330		[(d) for the alternate assessment described in Subsection (2)(b), describe:]
352	331		161
353	332		[(i) the content of an alternate assessment;]
354	333		162
355	334		[(ii) how a public school student qualifies for an alternate assessment; and]
356	335		163
357	336		[(iii) how an LEA determines if a student passes an alternate assessment.]
358	337		164
359	338		Section 4. Section 53E-4-205.2 is enacted to read:
	339	+	- 5 - 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 381 03-05 09:44
360	340		165
361	341		53E-4-205.2 . American constitutional government and citizenship course
362	342		166
363	343		standards.
364	344		167
365	345		(1) Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, and as part of the social studies requirement
366	346		168
367	347		established under Section 53E-4-204, the state board shall require instruction on
368	348		169
369	349		American constitutional government and citizenship.
370	350		170
371	351		(2) In accordance with Subsections (3) and (4), the state board shall create standards for the
372	352		171
373	353		course required under Subsection (1) that:
374	354		172
375	355		(a) examine American founding principles, including:
376	356		173
377	357		(i) classical republicanism, natural rights, and colonial religious traditions; and
378	358		174
379	359		(ii) the text and principles of the Declaration of Independence and relationship to the
380	360		175
381	361		United States Constitution;
382	362		176
383	363		(b) examine the text of the United States Constitution, including:
384	364		177
385	365		(i) structure, powers, and limits of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches;
386	366		178
387	367		and
388	368		179
389	369		(ii) the principles and operation of federalism and the state constitutional tradition;
390	370		180
391	371		(c) examine the development of the United States Constitution through amendments,
392	372		181
393	373		including:
394	374		182
395	375		(i) the creation and application of the Bill of Rights;
396	376		183
397	377		(ii) the adoption and enforcement of the Civil War and Reconstruction Amendments;
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399	378		184
400	379		and
401	380		185
402	381		(iii) the adoption and enforcement of the other voting rights amendments; and
403	382		186
404	383		(d) examine the practice of self-government at the state and local level, including:
405	384		187
406	385		(i) the Utah Constitution and local government, including counties, municipalities,
407	386		188
408	387		and tribal governments;
409	388		189
410	389		(ii) state and local elections, including the current candidate nomination and
411	390		190
412	391		selection; and
413	392		191
414	393		(iii) the responsibilities of citizenship and participation in civil society.
415	394		192
416		-	(3) The course described in this ~~section~~ shall prioritize a close reading of the following
	395	+	(3) The course described in this part shall prioritize a close reading of the following primary
417	396		193
418		-	~~primary~~ source documents:
	397	+	source documents:
419	398		194
420	399		(a) the Mayflower Compact;
421	400		195
422	401		(b) the Declaration of Independence;
423	402		196
424	403		(c) the Iroquois Constitution;
425	404		197
426	405		(d) the United States Constitution;
427	406		198
428	407		(e) George Washington's Farewell Address;
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429	409		199
430	410		(f) selected passages from the Federalist and Antifederalist Papers;
431	411		200
432	412		(g) the Articles of Confederation;
433	413		201
434	414		(h) speeches of Frederick Douglass;
435	415		202
436	416		(i) the Lincoln-Douglas Debates;
437	417		203
438	418		(j) speeches of Abraham Lincoln;
439	419		204
440	420		(k) the Seneca Falls Declaration;
441	421		205
442	422		(l) the Letter from Birmingham Jail;
443	423		206
444	424		(m) the Utah Constitution; and
445	425		207
446	426		(n) other essential documents from American constitutional history.
447	427		208
448	428		(4) The state board shall, in collaboration with the Civic Thought and Leadership Initiative
449	429		209
450	430		within the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University, develop
451	431		210
452	432		standards that fulfill the requirements of this section.
453	433		211
454	434		Section 5. Repealer.
455	435		212
456	436		This bill repeals:
457	437		213
458	438		Section 53E-4-205.1, Waiver of basic civics test graduation requirement.
459	439		214
460	440		Section 6. Effective Date.
461	441		215
462	442		This bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
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