§ 15-259 — State seal of civics literacy program; requirements; diploma

A. The superintendent of public instruction shall establish a state seal of civics literacy program to recognize students who graduate from a school operated by a school district or a charter school located in this state and who have attained a high level of proficiency in civics.

B. The superintendent of public instruction shall:

1. Create a state seal of civics literacy that shall be affixed to the diploma and noted on the transcript of a student to recognize that the student has met the requirements prescribed in this section.

2. Deliver the state seal of civics literacy to each public school district or charter school that participates in the program.

C. Any school district or charter school may voluntarily participate in the state seal of civics literacy program by notifying the superintendent of public instruction of the school district's or charter school's intent to participate in the program.

D. Each school district governing board or charter school governing body that participates in the state seal of civics literacy program shall:

1. Identify the students who have met the requirements to be awarded the state seal of civics literacy.

2. Affix the state seal of civics literacy to the diploma and note the receipt of the state seal of civics literacy on the transcript of each student who meets those requirements.

E. In addition to the social studies graduation requirements prescribed in section 15-701.01, the state board of education, in collaboration with the school of civic and economic thought and leadership at Arizona state university and other experts on fundamental civic knowledge and civic literacy at universities in this state, shall adopt a list of assessments using research-based methodology to determine a student's proficiency in civics and may adopt rules as necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

F. A school district or charter school that participates in the state seal of civics literacy program established pursuant to this section shall award a student, on graduation from high school, a high school diploma with a state seal of civics literacy if the student meets both of the following requirements:

1. Successfully completes all social studies requirements for graduation with an overall grade point average in those classes of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent.

2. Demonstrates proficiency in civics by meeting the requirements adopted pursuant to subsection E of this section.