HB 4104
American Civics and History Act
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- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill, the American Civics and History Act, aims to strengthen civic education in West Virginia’s public schools. It mandates that all middle and high school students receive at least one semester of instruction in U.S. history, government, and civics. The curriculum must include diverse perspectives, primary sources, and interactive learning methods, with a focus on foundational documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Additionally, the bill establishes accountability measures through standardized testing and data reporting to track student understanding of American civics.
Key provisions
- Requires one semester of U.S. history, government, and civics instruction in middle and high school.
- Mandates the inclusion of diverse ideologies and primary sources in the curriculum.
- Establishes a review process for instructional materials by the West Virginia Department of Education.
- Requires public schools to administer a civics test based on the USCIS test annually.
- Requires school districts to report student performance data on the civics test to the state.
- Creates a publicly accessible ‘Civic Education Scorecard’ to track district-level performance.
- Prohibits schools from compelling students or teachers to affirm specific beliefs on controversial issues.
- Instructors must present diverse perspectives on current events and social issues.
Who is affected
- Public school students in West Virginia
- Public school teachers in West Virginia
- West Virginia State Board of Education
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