AB273: Bill Text

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the state superintendent of public instruction, in collaboration with certain organizations specified in the bill, to develop a model curriculum for all grades, from kindergarten to 12, on African American history that does all of the following:

1. Includes developmentally appropriate instruction in the history of African Americans in the United States in general, and in this state in particular, and incorporates that history into the broader context of national and state history.

2. Includes instruction in the experiences of African Americans in, and the contributions of African Americans to, the origins and development of the United States and this state.

3. Includes instruction in the anthropological migration of people into this state.

4. Includes tools to help pupils analyze history as a means to understand current events and envision a positive multicultural society.

5. Specifies the essential knowledge and associated performance standards regarding African American history that are incorporated into the social studies curriculum in each grade.

The bill also requires the state superintendent to incorporate African American history instruction that is consistent with the model curriculum into the model academic standards for social studies. Public schools, independent charter schools, and private schools must include in their social studies curriculum for every grade, from kindergarten to 12, instruction in African American history that is consistent with the model curriculum. Under the bill, DPI must employ three education consultants to assist schools with updating curriculum and providing African American history instruction.

Finally, under the bill, the state superintendent may not grant a teaching license unless the applicant has received instruction in African American history that is consistent with the model curriculum.

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:

AB273,1 Section 1. 115.28 (55) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB273,2,2 115.28 (55) (title) Social studies standards; organized labor.

AB273,2 Section 2. 115.28 (55m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB273,2,6 115.28 (55m) African American history; model standards; curriculum. (a) Develop a model curriculum for grades kindergarten to 12 on African American history that does all of the following:

AB273,2,9 1. Includes developmentally appropriate instruction in the history of African Americans in the United States in general, and in this state in particular, and incorporates that history into the broader context of national and state history.

AB273,2,12 2. Includes instruction in the experiences of African Americans in, and the contributions of African Americans to, the origins and development of the United States and this state.

AB273,3,2 3. Includes instruction in the anthropological migration of people into this state.

AB273,3,4 4. Includes tools to help pupils analyze history as a means to understand current events and envision a positive multicultural society.

AB273,3,7 5. Specifies the essential knowledge and associated performance standards regarding African American history that are incorporated into the social studies curriculum in each grade.

AB273,3,10 (b) Incorporate African American history instruction that is consistent with the curriculum developed under par. (a) into the model academic standards for social studies.

AB273,3,14 (c) Employ 3 full-time education consultants to assist school boards, operators of charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) and (2x), and governing bodies of private schools with updating curriculum and providing African American history instruction.

AB273,3 Section 3. 118.165 (3) of the statutes is created to read:

AB273,3,18 118.165 (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 African American history required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 4m.

AB273,4 Section 4. 118.19 (8) of the statutes is renumbered 118.19 (8) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB273,3,23 118.19 (8) (intro.) The state superintendent may not grant to any person a license to teach unless the person has received instruction in the study of minority group relations, including instruction in all of the following:

AB273,3,25 (a) The history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of the federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands located in this state.

AB273,5 Section 5. 118.19 (8) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB273,4,3 118.19 (8) (b) The history of African American people consistent with the model curriculum developed under s. 115.28 (55m) (a).

AB273,6 Section 6. 118.40 (2r) (d) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

AB273,4,7 118.40 (2r) (d) 3. Ensure that each charter school established under this subsection includes in its curriculum the instruction in African American history required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 4m.

AB273,7 Section 7. 118.40 (2x) (d) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

AB273,4,11 118.40 (2x) (d) 3. Ensure that each charter school established under this subsection includes in its curriculum the instruction in African American history required under s. 121.02 (1) (L) 4m.

AB273,8 Section 8. 121.02 (1) (L) 4m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB273,4,15 121.02 (1) (L) 4m. As part of the social studies curriculum, include instruction in African American history that is consistent with the model curriculum developed under s. 115.28 (55m) (a) in each elementary and high school grade.

AB273,9 Section 9. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB273,4,19 (1) Development of model curriculum. In developing the model curriculum required under s. 115.28 (55m) (a), the state superintendent of public instruction shall collaborate with all of the following:

AB273,4,20 (a) The African-American/Jewish Friendship Group, Inc.

AB273,4,21 (b) Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum, Inc.

AB273,4,22 (c) America's Black Holocaust Museum.

AB273,4,23 (d) The University of Wisconsin System.

AB273,10 Section 10 . Fiscal changes.

AB273,5,8 (1) Education consultant positions. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of public instruction under s. 20.255 (1) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2021-22 is increased by $384,900 to increase the authorized FTE positions for the department by 3.0 GPR positions for the education consultants required under s. 115.28 (55m) (c). In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of public instruction under s. 20.255 (1) (a), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2022-23 is increased by $384,900 to provide funding for the positions authorized under this subsection.

AB273,11 Section 11. Initial applicability.

AB273,5,12 (1) Curriculum requirements. The treatment of ss. 118.165 (3), 118.40 (2r) (d) 3. and (2x) (d) 3., and 121.02 (1) (L) 4m. first applies to curriculum for the school year that begins after the effective date of this subsection.

AB273,12 Section 12. Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:

AB273,5,16 (1) Licensure requirements. The renumbering and amendment of s. 118.19 (8) and the creation of s. 118.19 (8) (b) take effect on July 1, 2022.

AB273,5,19 (2) Education consultant positions. Section (10 ) (1) of this act takes effect on the day after publication, or on the 2nd day after publication of the 2021 biennial budget act, whichever is later.

AB273,5,20 (End)