2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
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2025 SENATE BILL 30
February 12, 2025 - Introduced by Senators WANGGAARD, CABRAL-GUEVARA and
FEYEN, cosponsored by Representatives NEDWESKI, BEHNKE, DITTRICH,
DONOVAN, GUNDRUM, KNODL, KREIBICH, MURPHY, O'CONNOR, STEFFEN,
TUSLER, VOS, WICHGERS and MELOTIK. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT to amend 118.165 (1) (d) and 118.33 (1) (a) 1. b.; to create 115.28 (55v),
118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m., 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m., 118.60 (2) (a) 10., 119.23 (2) (a) 10.
and 121.02 (1) (L) 9. of the statutes; relating to: required instruction in civics
in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation
requirements, and private school educational program criteria.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, this bill requires school boards,
independent charter schools, and private schools participating in a parental choice
program to include in their respective curricula instruction in civics that includes
the following topics and pupil development goals:
1. An understanding of pupils[ shared rights and responsibilities as residents
of this state and the United States and of the founding principles of the United
States.
2. A sense of civic pride and desire to participate regularly with government at
the local, state, and federal levels.
3. An understanding of the process for effectively advocating before
governmental bodies and officials.
4. An understanding of the civic-minded expectations of an upright and
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desirable citizenry that recognizes and accepts responsibility for preserving and
defending the benefits of liberty inherited from previous generations and secured
by the U.S. Constitution.
5. Knowledge of other nations[ governing philosophies, including communism,
socialism, and totalitarianism, and an understanding of how those philosophies
compare with the philosophy and principles of freedom and representative
democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States.
The bill also requires school boards, independent charter schools, and private
schools participating in a parental choice program to annually report to the
Department of Public Instruction regarding how they are meeting the civics
instruction requirement created under the bill. DPI must then compile the
information and submit it to the legislature.
Finally, under current law, a school board may grant a high school diploma to
a pupil only if the pupil meets specific statutory requirements, including earning a
certain number of credits in various subjects in the high school grades and passing
a civics test comprised of questions that are identical to those that are asked as part
of the process of applying for U.S. citizenship. Currently, a pupil must earn at least
three credits of social studies, including state and local government. The bill
specifies that the social studies credits also must include one-half credit of civics
instruction. This graduation requirement first applies to pupils who graduate in
the 2030-31 school year.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 115.28 (55v) of the statutes is created to read:
115.28 (55v) CIVICS EDUCATION CURRICULUM; REPORT. Beginning in the
2027-28 school year, annually compile and submit information the department
received in the previous school year under ss. 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. and (2x) (b) 2. m.,
118.60 (2) (a) 10., 119.23 (2) (a) 10., and 121.02 (1) (L) 9. to the appropriate standing
committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3).
SECTION 2. 118.165 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
118.165 (1) (d) The program provides a sequentially progressive curriculum of
fundamental instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies,
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SECTION 2
science, and health. This subsection does not require the program to include in its
curriculum any concept, topic, or practice in conflict with the program[s religious
doctrines or mission or to exclude from its curriculum any concept, topic, or practice
consistent with the program[s religious doctrines or mission.
SECTION 3. 118.33 (1) (a) 1. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
118.33 (1) (a) 1. b. At least 3 credits of social studies, including state and local
government, that include at least 0.5 credit of civics instruction.
SECTION 4. 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. of the statutes is created to read:
118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. A requirement that the charter school[s curriculum
include the instruction in civics required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 9. and that the
charter school annually report to the department regarding how the charter school
governing board is meeting the requirement under this subd. 2. m.
SECTION 5. 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m. of the statutes is created to read:
118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m. A requirement that the charter school[s curriculum
include the instruction in civics required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 9. and that the
charter school annually report to the department regarding how the charter school
governing board is meeting the requirement under this subd. 2. m.
SECTION 6. 118.60 (2) (a) 10. of the statutes is created to read:
118.60 (2) (a) 10. The private school includes in its curriculum the instruction
in civics required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 9. and annually reports to the department
regarding how the private school is meeting the requirement under this
subdivision.
SECTION 7. 119.23 (2) (a) 10. of the statutes is created to read:
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119.23 (2) (a) 10. The private school includes in its curriculum the instruction
in civics required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 9. and annually reports to the department
regarding how the private school is meeting the requirement under this
subdivision.
SECTION 8. 121.02 (1) (L) 9. of the statutes is created to read:
121.02 (1) (L) 9. Include instruction in civics that includes all of the following
topics and pupil development goals and annually report to the department how the
school board is meeting the requirement under this subdivision:
a. An understanding of pupils[ shared rights and responsibilities as residents
of this state and the United States and of the founding principles of the United
States, including the history and content of the Declaration of Independence,
including natural and popular sovereignty and self-evident truth, and how those
concepts form the philosophical foundations of government; the history, meaning,
significance, and effect of provisions of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights
and how those documents provide the structure of government; and the arguments
in support of adopting the republican form of government, including those
arguments contained in the Federalist Papers.
b. A sense of civic pride and desire to participate regularly with government at
the local, state, and federal levels.
c. An understanding of the process for effectively advocating before
governmental bodies and officials.
d. An understanding of the civic-minded expectations of an upright and
desirable citizenry that recognizes and accepts responsibility for preserving and
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SECTION 8
defending the benefits of liberty inherited from previous generations and secured
by the U.S. Constitution.
e. Knowledge of other nations[ governing philosophies, including communism,
socialism, and totalitarianism, and an understanding of how those philosophies
compare with the philosophy and principles of freedom and representative
democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States.
SECTION 9. Initial applicability.
(1) The treatment of s. 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. and (2x) (b) 2. m. first applies to a
contract that is entered into, renewed, or modified on the effective date of this
subsection.
(2) The treatment of ss. 118.60 (2) (a) 10. and 119.23 (2) (a) 10. first applies to
an application to attend a private school under a parental choice program in the
2027-28 school year.
(3) The treatment of s. 121.02 (1) (L) 9. first applies to curriculum for the
2027-28 school year.
(4) The treatment of s. 118.33 (1) (a) 1. b. first applies to a pupil who
graduates in the 2030-31 school year.
SECTION 10. Effective date.
(1) This act takes effect on July 1, 2026.
(END)
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