A measure Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Acton Township, authored to restore civics as an educational priority was included in an omnibus education package approved by the House Tuesday night.
The provision defines experiential learning in order to establish which activities are applicable to meeting existing Minnesota academic benchmarks in social studies.
Urdahl said he now will focus on bringing other lost civics provisions back into the equation as the bill is prepared for a vote on final passage. His top priority is salvaging a bill requiring schools to offer civics classes to high school juniors or seniors for credit. The proposal was sponsored by a majority 69 members of the House, but was left out of the omnibus package.
“That’s the biggest piece to restoring civics as a priority in our schools,” Urdahl said. “Reports show barely 1-in-4 Minnesota students are graduating with proficient civics knowledge.”
Overall, the bill provides $900 million in new E-12 education funding in the upcoming biennium, with increases of 3 percent in 2020 and 2 percent in 2021. The bill now heads to the Senate with a May 20 adjournment date for the Legislature approaching.
