PRINTER'S NO. 1422
No. 1234 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY PITTS, NOYE, J. L. WRIGHT, VROON, BARLEY, SCHEETZ,
PHILLIPS, SAURMAN, TRELLO, DISTLER, HERSHEY, CLYMER, NAHILL,
GEIST, JOHNSON, MAIALE, E. Z. TAYLOR, FLICK, WOGAN, LEH,
BUNT, GLADECK, FOX, LASHINGER, LANGTRY, DIETTERICK, COY,
BROUJOS, BATTISTO, ALLEN, FARMER, JACKSON, CAWLEY, FREIND,
CARLSON, MICOZZIE, SEMMEL, DEMPSEY, HAGARTY, REBER, OLASZ,
RAYMOND, CIVERA AND BUSH, APRIL 19, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 19, 1989
AN ACT
1 Requiring a Civic Literacy Education Program for students in the
2 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Civic
7 Literacy Act.
8 Section 2. Findings.
9 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
10 (1) The adoption of the Declaration of Independence in
11 1776 and the signing of the United States Constitution were
12 principal events in the history of the United States.
13 (2) The Federalist Papers embody an eloquent and
14 forceful argument made in support of the adoption of our
15 republican form of government.
1 (3) These documents stand as the foundation of our form
2 of democracy, providing at the same time the touchstone of
3 our national identity and the vehicle for orderly growth and
4 change.
5 (4) Many Americans lack even the most basic knowledge
6 and understanding about the history of our nation and the
7 principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence,
8 codified in the Constitution and defended in the Federalist
9 papers.
10 (5) The survival of the Republic requires that our
11 Nation's children, the future guardians of its heritage and
12 participants in its governance, have a firm knowledge and
13 understanding of its principles and history.
14 Section 3. Statement of purpose.
15 The purpose and intent of this act is to include among the
16 requirements for secondary school graduation a thorough
17 knowledge and understanding of the nation's founding documents.
18 Section 4. Requirements for secondary school graduation.
19 No pupil in any public secondary school may receive a
20 certificate or diploma of graduation without having first
21 demonstrated a thorough knowledge and understanding of the
22 Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and
23 the Federalist Papers.
24 Section 5. Administration.
25 The State Board of Education shall adopt and promulgate rules
26 and regulations for the administration of this act which shall:
27 (1) Include among the requirements for secondary school
28 graduation a thorough knowledge and understanding of the
29 Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution
30 and the Federalist Papers.
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1 (2) Specifically provide for student testing, curriculum
2 content and teacher training to ensure that the intent of
3 this legislation is satisfied.
4 Section 6. Reporting and accountability.
5 The State Board of Education shall submit an annual report to
6 the General Assembly describing the specific rules and
7 regulations issued pursuant to this act and reporting the
8 effectiveness of these rules and regulations as measured by
9 tests administered to students pursuant to section 5(2).
10 Section 7. Effective date.
11 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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