Bill Text: OR HJR36 | 2011 | Regular Session | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Urging school districts to require students to successfully complete course in civics and government education, or otherwise demonstrate proficiency in civics and government, prior to graduation from high school.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 5-1)

Status: (Failed) 2011-06-30 - In committee upon adjournment. [HJR36 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2011-HJR36-Engrossed.html

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     76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

 LC 1251

                           A-Engrossed

                    House Joint Resolution 36
                  Ordered by the House April 5
            Including House Amendments dated April 5

Sponsored by Representative WHISNANT, Senator BONAMICI;
  Representatives FREEMAN, HUFFMAN, MCLANE, THATCHER

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.

  Urges school districts to require students to
 { - successfully complete course in civics education - }
 { + become proficient in civics and government by successfully
completing course in, or otherwise demonstrating proficiency in,
civics and government + } prior to graduation from high school.

                        JOINT RESOLUTION
  Whereas an informed and capable citizenry is vital to the
preservation of a free and democratic government; and
  Whereas schools have a clear civic mission to prepare students
for life in their communities and in our democratic society; and
  Whereas 29 states require high school students to take a course
in government; and
  Whereas a 2003 report by the National Conference of State
Legislatures revealed that students who had a course in civics or
American government were two or three times more likely to engage
in civic activities and more likely to believe that they are
personally responsible for making things better in society; and
  Whereas a 2006 study of students without civic education showed
that less than a third of eighth graders could identify the
historic purpose of the Declaration of Independence and less than
a fifth of high school seniors could explain how citizen
participation benefits democracy; and
  Whereas school districts should provide a one-half credit
course in civics and government education or should otherwise
provide students with an opportunity to become proficient in
civics and government; and
  Whereas school districts should consider using nonprofit
organizations as a source of free civics and government education
curricula; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  That we, the members of the Seventy-sixth Legislative Assembly,
urge school districts to require students to become proficient in
civics and government by successfully completing a course in
civics and government education or by otherwise demonstrating
proficiency in civics and government prior to graduation.
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