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

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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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-Introduced.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
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 LC 1251

                    House Joint Resolution 36

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 as
introduced.

  Urges school districts to require students to successfully
complete course in civics education 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 the Department of Education should require school
districts to provide a one-half credit course in civics education
as a graduation requirement; and
  Whereas school districts should consider using nonprofit
organizations as a source of free civics 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 successfully
complete a course in civics education prior to graduation from
high school.
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