(1) The history and civil government of the United States and of the state of Colorado, which includes the history, culture, and social contributions of minorities, including, but not limited to, American Indians, Latinos, African Americans, and Asian Americans, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals within these minority groups, and the intersectionality of significant social and cultural features within these communities, and the contributions and persecution of religious minorities, must be taught in all the public schools of the state.
Satisfactory completion of a course on the civil government of the United States andthe state of Colorado, including the subjects described in subsection (1) of this section, is a condition of high school graduation in the public schools of this state.
(a) In an effort to increase civic participation among young people, each school district board of education shall convene a community forum on a periodic basis, but not less than once every six years, for all interested persons to discuss adopted content standards in civics, including the subjects described in subsection (1) of this section. The history, culture, social contributions, and civil government in education commission established in section 22-1104.3 shall actively participate in any such forums.
(b) Based upon input from this community forum, each school district board of education shall determine how the subject areas specified in subsection (1) of this section are addressed when establishing graduation requirements.
(4) (a) In an effort to strengthen the teaching of the history, culture, social contributions, and civil government of the state of Colorado and of the United States in all public schools of the state in accordance with the requirements of this section, the department of education, in conjunction with the history, culture, social contributions, and civil government in education commission established in section 22-1-104.3, shall assist the school districts of the state in developing and promoting programs for elementary and secondary students that engage the students in the process of discovery and interpretation of the subjects and topics set forth in subsection (1) of this section.
The department of education is authorized to accept gifts, grants, and donations infurtherance of the objectives specified in subsection (4)(a) of this section.
It is the intent of the general assembly that the objectives specified in subsection(4)(a) of this section are funded through the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution. The general assembly hereby finds that the development, promotion, and maintenance by the school districts of the state of programs for elementary and secondary students that engage such students in the process of discovery and interpretation of the subjects and topics set forth in subsection (1) of this section assist these students in meeting state academic standards and may therefore be funded from money in the state education fund.
(5) (a) In an effort to strengthen the teaching of history, culture, social contributions, and civil government, as described in subsection (1) of this section, in all public schools of the state in accordance with the requirements of this section, the department of education, in conjunction with the history, culture, social contributions, and civil government in education commission established in section 22-1-104.3, shall assist the school districts of the state in developing and promoting programs for elementary and secondary students that address the state model content standards for history and civics and promote best practices while also addressing the subjects and topics described in subsection (1) of this section.
(b) It is the intent of the general assembly that the objectives specified in this subsection (5) are funded through the state education fund created in section 17 (4) of article IX of the state constitution. The general assembly hereby finds that the development, promotion, and maintenance by the school districts of the state of programs for elementary and secondary students that address the state model content standards for history and civics and promote best practices while addressing the subjects and topics described in subsection (1) of this section assist these students in meeting state academic standards and may therefore be funded from money in the state education fund.
(6) The state board of education shall take into consideration any recommendations of the history, culture, social contributions, and civil government in education commission established in section 22-1-104.3 when performing its six-year review of the state's education standards pursuant to section 22-7-1005 (6).
Source: L. 21: p. 728, § 1. C.L. § 8498. CSA: C. 146, § 292. CRS 53: § 123-21-4.
C.R.S. 1963: § 123-21-4. L. 69: p. 1022, § 2. L. 98: (2) amended, p. 328, § 1, effective April 17. L. 2003: (3) and (4) added, p. 1228, § 1, effective August 6. L. 2004: (5) added, p. 875, § 2, effective May 21. L. 2005: (6) added, p. 438, § 14, effective April 29. L. 2015: (4)(a) amended, (HB 15-1323), ch. 204, p. 719, § 17, effective May 20. L. 2019: Entire section amended, (HB 19-1192), ch. 302, p. 2773, § 1, effective May 28.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 2004 act enacting subsection (5), see section 1 of chapter 251, Session Laws of Colorado 2004.