THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1165

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

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 Hawaii has the lowest voter turnout in the nation. In the 2018 general election, only 52.6 per cent of registered voters cast a ballot.  The State's historic lowest rate of voter participation was 52.3 per cent.  One strategy to increase voter turnout over the long term is to cultivate social and political engagement among students.

The legislature further finds that civic education prepares and encourages students to participate in the public and political life of their communities.  In civics, students learn to recognize social problems, evaluate possible solutions, separate evidence-based claims from opinions, and act upon what they learn.  Civic education is vital to the functioning of a democratic republic.

The legislature additionally finds that the state board of education adopted the college, career and civic life framework for social studies state standards, or C3 Framework, in 2018.  The framework uses inquiry-based learning and emphasizes the application of knowledge to real-world problems, issues, and concerns.  The C3 Framework incorporates new paradigms focusing on global perspectives, multicultural viewpoints, democratic citizenship, connecting the past with the present, collaborative learning and work environments, and applying knowledge to the broader community.  Such a framework is an important vehicle to strengthen civic education.

The purpose of this Act is to increase students' access to civic education by:

(1)  Appropriating funds to the department of education for the expansion of civic education in public schools, including professional development and classroom resources related to the college, career and civic life framework for social studies; and

(2)  Establishing one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent civic education resource position within the department of education and appropriating funds for the position.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the expansion of civic education in public schools, including professional development and classroom resources related to the college, career and civic life framework for social studies state standards.

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

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $84,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021, for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.00 FTE) permanent civic education resource teacher in the department of education, to provide social studies teachers in all complex areas with guidance and training on the best practices to implement the college, career and civic life framework for social studies state standards.

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

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Civic Education; Public Schools; Department of Education

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for professional development and classroom resources related to the college, career and civic life framework for social studies state standards.  Establishes one full-time resource teacher position and appropriates funds for the position for public school civic education.

 

 

 

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