Revise laws to add history and civics classes in high school as a requirement for graduation

2025 Regular Session

Proposed law would require high school graduation credit in history and civics, reshaping districts, teachers, and curricula; currently a draft that has died in process.

(LC) Draft Died in Process

#schoolsandeducation

LC 1236 — Summary

Overview

LC 1236 is a proposed education bill titled “Revise laws to add history and civics classes in high school as a requirement for graduation.” The bill would revise state law to make completion of history and civics coursework a graduation requirement for high school students, aiming to strengthen civics and historical literacy. The bill is currently dormant and did not advance beyond the draft stage.

Purpose and intent

Establish a state-wide graduation requirement for high school students to complete history and civics coursework.

Promote enhanced civics education and historical understanding as part of a standard high school curriculum.

Update the statutory framework governing graduation requirements to incorporate these subjects.

Key provisions (as proposed)

Amend the applicable graduation-requirement statute to add history and civics courses as mandatory components for high school graduation.

The bill does not specify:

The number of courses or total credit hours required
Specific course titles, sequencing, or pacing
Exemptions, waivers, or grandfathering provisions
Implementation timeline or phased-in dates
Funding, staffing, or professional development requirements

By not detailing these elements in the summary, the bill’s concrete implementation would depend on subsequent drafting or regulations.

Affected parties

High school students: new graduation prerequisite related to history and civics

School districts and local education agencies: curriculum planning, scheduling, staffing, and budgeting implications

History and social studies teachers: potential changes in course offerings and staffing needs

State education agency (or equivalent): oversight, policy alignment, and potential development of standards or guidance

Status and timeline

Introduced: November 12, 2024

2024-11-12: Drafter Assigned

2024-12-04: Draft On Hold

2025-05-24: Draft Died in Process (the latest action)

Current status: Died in Process; no active version of the bill has advanced through the legislature

Potential implications and considerations

Educational impact: greater emphasis on history and civics could improve civic knowledge and engagement but may require adjustments to elective options or other required courses.

Resource needs: potential need for new curricula, teacher training, and possible hiring or redistribution of staff.

Implementation: without specified timelines or funding, districts would need to plan for potential schedule changes and alignment with existing standards.

Next steps

If the bill is revived, it would require reintroduction, committee placement, hearings, and potential amendments detailing credits, timelines, exemptions, and funding. Without those elements, the bill remains a draft proposal that did not progress.