The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PETITION OF:
Elizabeth A. Poirier
Gloria L. Fox
Lewis G. Evangelidis
Barbara A. L'Italien
Daniel K. Webster
James E. Timilty
Anthony J. Verga
Matthew C. Patrick
Susan Williams Gifford
Douglas W. Petersen
John P. Fresolo
James H. Fagan
Alice K. Wolf
Frank I. Smizik
John A. Lepper
Christine E. Canavan
Donald F. Humason, Jr.
Thomas M. Stanley
Richard J. Ross
Ellen Story
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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
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An Act Directing the Department of Education to include a course in civics as a requirement for students to graduate from high school. . |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1: Section 2 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws is amended, in line 7, by inserting after “ … for the duties of citizenship.” The following:
The successful completion of a course in civics shall be mandated as a requirement for all students in order to receive their high school diploma. The department of education shall set guidelines for all school districts relative to the implementation of the civics course. At minimum, the course must educate students in the following criteria:
Composition of local, state, and federal government
Function of the branches of local, state, and federal government
Responsibilities and duties as an American citizen
Opportunities for voter participation
Exposure to current events and identification of government officials
SECTION 2: The department shall take all reasonable efforts to accomplish the establishment of necessary regulations by June 30, 2008, in order that the provisions of this act may be implemented in the following school year.