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CIVIC AND CHARACTER EDUCATION REPORTS

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AMENDMENTS

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2019 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Dan N. Johnson

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Senate Sponsor: Lyle W. Hillyard

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8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill modifies provisions regarding civic and character education.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     repeals one report and amends the receiving entity for another report on civics and
14     character education.
15     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16          None
17     Other Special Clauses:
18          None
19     Utah Code Sections Affected:
20     AMENDS:
21          53G-10-204, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 3
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23     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24          Section 1. Section 53G-10-204 is amended to read:
25          53G-10-204. Civic and character education -- Definitions -- Legislative finding --
26     Elements -- Reporting requirements.
27          (1) As used in this section:
28          (a) "Character education" means reaffirming values and qualities of character which
29     promote an upright and desirable citizenry.
30          (b) "Civic education" means the cultivation of informed, responsible participation in
31     political life by competent citizens committed to the fundamental values and principles of
32     representative democracy in Utah and the United States.
33          (c) "Values" means time-established principles or standards of worth.
34          (2) The Legislature recognizes that:
35          (a) Civic and character education are fundamental elements of the public education
36     system's core mission as originally intended and established under Article X of the Utah
37     Constitution;
38          (b) Civic and character education are fundamental elements of the constitutional
39     responsibility of public education and shall be a continuing emphasis and focus in public
40     schools;
41          (c) the cultivation of a continuing understanding and appreciation of a constitutional
42     republic and principles of representative democracy in Utah and the United States among
43     succeeding generations of educated and responsible citizens is important to the nation and
44     state;
45          (d) the primary responsibility for the education of children within the state resides with
46     their parents or guardians and that the role of state and local governments is to support and
47     assist parents in fulfilling that responsibility;
48          (e) public schools fulfill a vital purpose in the preparation of succeeding generations of
49     informed and responsible citizens who are deeply attached to essential democratic values and
50     institutions; and
51          (f) the happiness and security of American society relies upon the public virtue of its
52     citizens which requires a united commitment to a moral social order where self-interests are
53     willingly subordinated to the greater common good.
54          (3) Through an integrated curriculum, students shall be taught in connection with
55     regular school work:
56          (a) honesty, integrity, morality, civility, duty, honor, service, and obedience to law;
57          (b) respect for and an understanding of the Declaration of Independence and the
58     constitutions of the United States and of the state of Utah;
59          (c) Utah history, including territorial and preterritorial development to the present;
60          (d) the essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system;
61          (e) respect for parents, home, and family;
62          (f) the dignity and necessity of honest labor; and
63          (g) other skills, habits, and qualities of character which will promote an upright and
64     desirable citizenry and better prepare students to recognize and accept responsibility for
65     preserving and defending the blessings of liberty inherited from prior generations and secured
66     by the constitution.
67          (4) Local school boards and school administrators may provide training, direction, and
68     encouragement, as needed, to accomplish the intent and requirements of this section and to
69     effectively emphasize civic and character education in the course of regular instruction in the
70     public schools.
71          (5) Civic and character education in public schools are:
72          (a) not intended to be separate programs in need of special funding or added specialists
73     to be accomplished; and
74          (b) core principles which reflect the shared values of the citizens of Utah and the
75     founding principles upon which representative democracy in the United States and the state of
76     Utah are based.
77          [(6) To assist the Commission on Civic and Character Education in fulfilling the
78     commission's duties under Section 67-1a-11, by December 30 of each year, each school district
79     and the State Charter School Board shall submit to the lieutenant governor and the commission
80     a report summarizing how civic and character education are achieved in the school district or
81     charter schools through an integrated school curriculum and in the regular course of school
82     work as provided in this section.]
83          [(7)] (6) Each year, the [State Board of Education] state board shall report to the
84     Education Interim Committee[, on or before the October meeting,] and the Commission on
85     Civic and Character Education the methods used, and the results being achieved, to instruct and
86     prepare students to become informed and responsible citizens through an integrated curriculum
87     taught in connection with regular school work as required in this section.