HF 132 (LSB 1683HV (1) 90)

HOUSE FILE 132

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 12)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to social studies instruction in public schools, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph b, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  Five units of the social studies including instruction in voting statutes and procedures, voter registration requirements, the use of paper ballots and voting systems in the election process, and the method of acquiring and casting an absentee ballot. All students shall complete a minimum of one-half unit of United States government and one unit of United States history. The one-half unit of United States government shall include the all of the following:
   (1)  The voting procedure as described in this lettered paragraph and section 280.9A. The government instruction shall also include a 
   (2)  A study of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights contained in the Constitution and an assessment of a student’s knowledge of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
   (3)  A comparative discussion of political ideologies, including communism and totalitarianism, that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy that were essential to the founding of the United States.
    Sec. 2.  Section 256E.7, subsection 2, paragraph g, Code 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   g.  Be subject to and comply with the requirements of section 256.7, subsection 21, and the educational standards of section 256.11, unless specifically waived by the state board during the application process; provided, however, that the state board shall not waive the educational standards related to social studies instruction established in section 256.11, subsection 5, paragraph “b”.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to social studies instruction in public schools, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools. The bill requires that the one-half unit of United States government that is required to be taught in grades 9 through 12 in public schools, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools shall include a comparative discussion of political ideologies that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy that were essential to the founding of the United States.