SPONSOR:

Sen. Richardson & Rep. Postles

Sens. Bonini, Hocker, Lawson, Pettyjohn, Wilson; Reps. Collins, Dukes, D. Short, Yearick

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 232

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE ASSESSMENT OF CIVIC KNOWLEDGE.

WHEREAS, Delaware is one of a handful of states that does not require completion of a civics course in order to graduate from high school; and

WHEREAS, the protection of the rights and responsibilities of citizens depends on an accurate knowledge of our Nation and its laws; and

WHEREAS, Delaware benefits from citizens who understand the importance of working together to “form a more perfect Union”.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Subchapter I, Chapter 41, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 4144. Assessment of civic knowledge.

(a) For purposes of this section :

(1) “Charter school” means a public school established under Chapter 5 of this title.

(2) “Department” means the Department of Education.

(3) “School district” means a clearly defined geographic subdivision of this State organized for the purpose of administering public education in that area and includes a district specifically created to administer a system of vocational or technical education.

(b) A school district or charter school serving high school students shall administer in grade 10 and in grade 12 an assessment of United States history, government, and civics that includes all of the following:

(1) The nature, purpose, principles, and structures of United States constitutional republic.

(2) The principles, operations, and documents of the United States government.

(3) The rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

(c) A school district or charter school shall determine the form of the assessment and the manner in which the assessment is administered.

(d) A school district or charter school may administer the assessment required under subsection (b) of this section at the conclusion of the course of study required to meet the standards for social studies adopted by the Department.

(e) A school district or charter school may use the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test to satisfy the requirement under subsection (b) of this section.

(f) A school district or charter school shall issue a certificate of recognition, developed by the Department, to a student who achieves a perfect score on the assessment administered under subsection (b) of this section.

(g) A school district or charter school shall report all of the following to the Department not later than November 30 following each school year:

(1) The type of assessment administered as required under subsection (b) of this section.

(2) The total number of students who took the assessment.

(3) The total number of students who attained a passing grade on the assessment.

(4) The information required by paragraphs (g)(2) and (3) of this section by grade level in which the assessment was administered.

(5) The course in each grade level in which the assessment was administered.

(h) The Department shall do all of the following:

(1) Develop the certificate of recognition required under subsection (f) of this section.

(2) Post on the Department’s publicly accessible Internet website all of the following:

a. Links to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test.

b. Links to relevant resources provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

c. Materials the Department deems useful to a school district or charter school in complying with the requirements of this section.

d. The certificate of recognition required under subsection (f) of this section.

e. The report required under paragraph (h)(3) of this section.

(3) Submit a written report to the Governor, members of the General Assembly, and Director of the Division of Research no later than January 15 of each year. The report must include the information required under subsection (g) of this section and any other information the Department deems appropriate.

(i) The Department may, with the approval of the State Board of Education, adopt regulations to implement and enforce this section.

Section 2. This Act is effective immediately and is to be implemented beginning with the 2023 through 2024 school year.

SYNOPSIS

This Act requires that each school district and charter school serving high school students administer in grade 10 and again in grade 12 an assessment of United States history, government, and civics that includes all of the following:

(1) The nature, purpose, principles, and structures of United States constitutional republic.

(2) The principles, operations, and documents of the United States government.

(3) The rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

This Act requires that school districts and charter schools report information regarding the implementation of this Act to the Department of Education (“Department”) and that the Department report that information to the Governor and members of the General Assembly and post the report on the Department’s website.

The implementation of this Act is delayed until the 2023 through 2024 school year to give school districts and charter schools time to select or develop the required assessment of civic knowledge.

Author: Senator Richardson