PATRIOT WEEK EACH SCHOOL YEAR

Senate Bill 121 as passed the Senate

Sponsor:  Sen. Patrick Colbeck

House Committee:  Education

Senate Committee:  Education

Complete to 3-4-14

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 121 (S-1) AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 12-11-13

Senate Bill 121 (S-1) would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1167) to encourage public schools to observe one week each school year as "Patriot Week".  A more detailed description of the bill follows.

The bill specifies that "the legislature recognizes that a vital purpose of education pursuant to the state constitution of 1963 is to develop good citizens.  In order to develop good citizens, an understanding of American history and America's first principles is indispensable."

To that end, during Patriot Week, the board of a school district, or board of directors of a public school academy (customarily called a charter school), would be encouraged to ensure that the following instruction was provided to students in grades kindergarten through 12 in an age- and grade-appropriate manner:

·                    Instruction in "the sacrifices made by millions of military personnel and their families in the defense of liberty" from the Revolutionary War to current conflicts, and the significance of Veteran's Day, Independence Day, and Memorial Day.

·                    Instruction affirming that the first principles upon which America was founded and flourished were: the rule of law, the social compact, equality, unalienable rights, and limited government.

·                    Instruction in founding documents that would explore how various historical documents "embody America's first principles and have advanced liberty".

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact on state or local government.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analysts:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Karen Shapiro

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.