AB563: Bill Text

2021 Assembly BILL 563

September 15, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives Vos, Rozar, Armstrong, Born, Dittrich, Duchow, James, Knodl, Kuglitsch, Loudenbeck, Magnafici, Moses, Novak, Penterman, Plumer, Snyder, Steffen, Summerfield, Tauchen, Tusler, Wichgers, Wittke and Zimmerman, cosponsored by Senators Bernier, Darling, Petrowski, Wanggaard and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB563,1,5 An Act to amend 118.33 (1) (a) 1. b.; and to create 115.28 (66), 118.165 (3), 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m., 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m. and 121.02 (1) (L) 9. of the statutes; relating to: required instruction in civic education in the elementary and high school grades; high school graduation requirements; and requiring the exercise of rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction to promulgate rules to develop a model curriculum and instructional materials for grades kindergarten to 12 on civic education to prepare pupils to be civically responsible and knowledgeable adults. The model curriculum and instructional materials must be designed to assist pupils in developing all of the following:

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 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 state superintendent must curate oral history resources to be used along with the model curriculum. The bill requires school boards, independent charter schools, and private schools to include in their respective curricula instruction in civic education that is consistent with the model curriculum.

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. 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.

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:

AB563,1 Section 1. 115.28 (66) of the statutes is created to read:

AB563,2,7 115.28 (66) Civic education curriculum. (a) Promulgate rules to develop a model curriculum and related instructional materials for grades kindergarten to 12 on civic education to prepare pupils to be civically responsible and knowledgeable adults. In developing the model curriculum and instructional materials, the state superintendent shall ensure that they are designed to assist pupils in developing all of the following:

AB563,2,10 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, including all of the following:

AB563,2,13 a. The history and content of the Declaration of Independence, including natural and popular sovereignty and self-evident truth, and how those concepts form philosophical foundations of government.

AB563,3,3 b. 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.

AB563,3,5 c. The arguments in support of adopting the republican form of government, including those argument contained in the Federalist Papers.

AB563,3,7 2. A sense of civic pride and desire to participate regularly with government at the local, state, and federal levels.

AB563,3,9 3. An understanding of the process for effectively advocating before governmental bodies and officials.

AB563,3,13 4. An understanding of the civic-minded expectations of an upright and 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.

AB563,3,17 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.

AB563,3,22 (b) Curate oral history resources, to be used along with the civic education curriculum developed under par. (a), that provide portraits in patriotism based on the personal stories of diverse individuals who demonstrate civic-minded qualities, including first-person accounts of victims of other nations' governing philosophies who are able to compare those philosophies with those of the United States.

AB563,2 Section 2. 118.165 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB563,4,3 118.165 (3) The governing body of a private school shall ensure that the private school, as part of the private school's curriculum, includes the instruction in civic education required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 9.

AB563,3 Section 3. 118.33 (1) (a) 1. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB563,4,6 118.33 (1) (a) 1. b. At least 3 credits of social studies, including state and local government, that includes at least 0.5 credit of civics instruction.

AB563,4 Section 4. 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB563,4,9 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. A requirement that the charter school's curriculum include the instruction in civic education required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 9.

AB563,5 Section 5. 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB563,4,12 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m. A requirement that the charter school's curriculum include the instruction in civic education required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 9.

AB563,6 Section 6. 121.02 (1) (L) 9. of the statutes is created to read:

AB563,4,15 121.02 (1) (L) 9. Include instruction in civic education that is consistent with the model curriculum developed under s. 115.28 (66) (a).

AB563,7 Section 7. Initial applicability.

AB563,4,19 (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.

AB563,4,21 (2) The treatment of ss. 118.165 (3) and 121.02 (1) (L) 9. first applies to curriculum for the 2022-23 school year.

AB563,4,23 (3) The treatment of s. 118.33 (1) (a) 1. b. first applies to a pupil who graduates in the 2022-23 school year.

AB563,4,24 (End)