Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) chief-authored bipartisan legislation addressing a growing “crisis” of civics knowledge in Minnesota. The bill requires juniors or seniors to take a for-credit civics class as part of the 3.5 social studies credits required in Minnesota high schools. The Minnesota Department of Education will begin collecting data from an already required 50-question civics test that Minnesota students take between grades seven and 12. While passage of the exam is not a graduation standard, the test data will help assess civics knowledge in our state.

“Educated citizens are fundamental to a democracy and our representative democracy is only as strong as its citizens,” said Nelson, chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee. “Students must have a working knowledge of our Constitution and government so they can shape our government institutions, rather than merely being shaped by them. I look forward to working across the aisle and with fellow educators in the legislature to strengthen our representative democracy through educating Minnesota students in civics education.”

A report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress shows less than 30 percent of students were proficient in civics, and a significant gap persists among racial and ethnic groups.

Similar legislation passed the Minnesota Legislature last year, but was vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton. This session, the bill was heard in Nelson’s E-12 Education Committee.