Bill Text: HI SB750 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 750

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Civic Education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [SB750 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SB750-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	750
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to civic education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that civic education prepares students to participate in the public and political lives of their communities. Teaching students about the importance of civic engagement through civic education helps develop critical thinking skills that are vital to the functioning of a democratic nation, including how to recognize social problems, evaluate possible solutions to problems, separate evidence-based claims from opinions, and act upon what is learned.

The legislature further finds that according to the US Elections Project, in the 2022 general election, forty-four states had a higher voter turnout than Hawaii. The legislature also finds that cultivating social and political engagement among students through civic education is an important strategy to increase voter turnout and citizen engagement over the long term.

The legislature additionally finds that in 2018, the board of education adopted the Hawaii core standards in social studies. These core standards outline the content, concepts, and inquiry skills students need to reason, wonder, and think about the vastness and richness of the human condition. The Hawaii core standards in social studies also integrate and encompass the democratic values, civility, and global perspective needed to support the development of critical thinking and habits of mind that are the hallmark of a mature, community-minded citizen. The standards are also premised upon a rigorous and relevant K-12 social studies experience.

The legislature also finds that engaging students in the pursuit of active and informed citizenship will connect students to the world through informed instructional experiences that are led by teachers who are committed to active civic participation. In this way, students will not simply acquire knowledge but will have the skills to engage in the workings of a democracy and practice democratic citizenship. However, the legislature finds that the department of education has not engaged in systematic teacher training on the new standards or addressed the paucity of culturally appropriate materials for historical and civic education.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Appropriate funds to the department of education to increase access to civic education in Hawaii's public school system; and

(2) Establish and fund two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) permanent civic education resource teacher positions within the department of education; provided that one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent position shall be grant funded.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the expansion of civic education in public schools, including professional development and classroom resources related to the Hawaii core standards in social studies and the establishment of:

(1) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent civic education resource teacher position to be funded by general appropriations; and

(2) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent civic education resource teacher position to be funded by grant funds from public or private sources.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Civic Education; Department of Education; Resource Teacher; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the department of education for the expansion of civic education in the public schools. Establishes two full-time equivalent permanent civic education resource teacher positions, one of which shall be grant funded.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.