(1) (a) The
history and civil government of the United States and of the state of Colorado,
which includes the history, culture, and social contributions of minorities, including
but not limited to American Indians, Latinos, African Americans, and Asian
Americans, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals within these
minority groups, and the intersectionality of significant social and cultural features
within these communities, and the contributions and persecution of religious
minorities, must be taught in all the public schools of the state.
(b) In addition to the requirements specified in subsection (1)(a) of this
section, courses for teaching the civil government of the United States and of the
state of Colorado must include instruction on:
(I) The three branches of government and how they interact; an
understanding of how laws are enacted at the federal, state, and local government
levels; and the methods by which citizens shape and influence government and
governmental actions;
(II) The formation and development of the governments of the United States
and the state of Colorado using federal and state foundational documents and the
significance and relevance of those foundational documents in modern society. At a
minimum, this instruction must include:
(A) The historical and modern significance of the declaration of
independence;
(B) How the United States constitution establishes the federal government
and the characteristics of the republic that it creates;
(C) How the Colorado constitution establishes the state government and its
relationship to local governments in the state;
(D) How the United States constitution with the bill of rights and the state
bill of rights in article II of the state constitution are applicable in modern society;
(E) How the United States constitution is amended and the changes that
have been made to it since 1787;
(F) How the Colorado constitution is amended and the changes that have
been made to it since 1876;
(G) How other foundational documents of the United States and Colorado,
including landmark United States supreme court decisions and significant Colorado
supreme court decisions, aided in the formation and have subsequently affected
the development of the United States and Colorado governments; and
(H) How to engage with federal, state, and local governments and how to
engage with public officials.
(c) Notwithstanding the requirement in section 22-7-1005 (6) to review the
preschool through elementary and secondary education standards every six years,
as soon as is practicable after September 7, 2021, the state board of education
shall review the civics portion of the social studies standards and revise them as
necessary to comply with the requirements of subsection (1)(b) of this section. The
state board of education shall take into consideration any recommendations of the
history, culture, social contributions, and civil government in education commission
established in section 22-1-104.3 in reviewing the civics standards pursuant to this
subsection (1)(c).
(d) Each public school and school district is encouraged to partner with local
service organizations to solicit donations to improve the quality of the civics
education program that the public school or school district provides. Donations may
be used to pay the cost of developing a high-quality curriculum, inviting speakers to
interact with students, and providing students with opportunities for civics learning
and engagement outside of the classroom.
(2) Satisfactory completion of a course on the civil government of the United
States and the state of Colorado, including the subjects described in subsection (1)
of this section, is a condition of high school graduation in the public schools of this
state.
(3) (a) In an effort to increase civic participation among young people, each
school district board of education shall convene a community forum on a periodic
basis, but not less than once every six years, for all interested persons to discuss
adopted content standards in civics, including the subjects described in subsection
(1) of this section. The history, culture, social contributions, and civil government in
education commission established in section 22-1-104.3 shall actively participate in
any such forums.
(b) Based upon input from this community forum, each school district board
of education shall determine how the subject areas specified in subsection (1) of
this section are addressed when establishing graduation requirements.
(4) (a) In an effort to strengthen the teaching of the history, culture, social
contributions, and civil government of the state of Colorado and of the United
States in all public schools of the state in accordance with the requirements of this
section, the department of education, in conjunction with the history, culture, social
contributions, and civil government in education commission established in section
22-1-104.3, shall assist the school districts of the state in developing and promoting
programs for elementary and secondary students that engage the students in the
process of discovery and interpretation of the subjects and topics set forth in
subsection (1) of this section.
(b) The department of education is authorized to accept gifts, grants, and
donations in furtherance of the objectives specified in subsection (4)(a) of this
section.
(c) It is the intent of the general assembly that the objectives specified in
subsection (4)(a) of this section are funded through the state education fund
created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution. The general assembly
hereby finds that the development, promotion, and maintenance by the school
districts of the state of programs for elementary and secondary students that
engage such students in the process of discovery and interpretation of the subjects
and topics set forth in subsection (1) of this section assist these students in meeting
state academic standards and may therefore be funded from money in the state
education fund.
(5) (a) In an effort to strengthen the teaching of history, culture, social
contributions, and civil government, as described in subsection (1) of this section, in
all public schools of the state in accordance with the requirements of this section,
the department of education, in conjunction with the history, culture, social
contributions, and civil government in education commission established in section
22-1-104.3, shall assist the school districts of the state in developing and promoting
programs for elementary and secondary students that address the state model
content standards for history and civics and promote best practices while also
addressing the subjects and topics described in subsection (1) of this section.
(b) It is the intent of the general assembly that the objectives specified in
this subsection (5) are funded through the state education fund created in section
17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution. The general assembly hereby finds that
the development, promotion, and maintenance by the school districts of the state of
programs for elementary and secondary students that address the state model
content standards for history and civics and promote best practices while
addressing the subjects and topics described in subsection (1) of this section assist
these students in meeting state academic standards and may therefore be funded
from money in the state education fund.
(6) The state board of education shall take into consideration any
recommendations of the history, culture, social contributions, and civil government
in education commission established in section 22-1-104.3 when performing its six-year review of the state's education standards pursuant to section 22-7-1005 (6).