HB 17-1022

HB 17-1022, also known as "Teaching Competent History In Public Schools," requires Colorado public schools to teach a more comprehensive history curriculum that includes the contributions and experiences of American Indians, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans. The bill mandates community forums every two years instead of every ten years to discuss and update these educational standards. It also establishes a commission to advise on making sure the education standards accurately represent diverse historical perspectives. Since it has been signed into law, this means that schools must now follow these new requirements for teaching history and civics.

Official Summary

The bill mandates funding instruction in public schools of history and civil government of the United States and Colorado, including but not limited to the history, culture, and contributions of American Indians, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans. Current law requires school districts to convene community forums to discuss the content standards in history and civil government at least once every 10 years. The bill requires the forums to be held at least every 2 years. The history, culture, and civil government in education commission is established to make recommendations to the state board of education when the state board performs the scheduled review of education standards in 2018 so those standards and programs accurately reflect the history, culture, and civil government of the United States and Colorado, including the contributions and influence of American Indians, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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