CONSTITUTION WEEK INSTRUCTION                                                                S.B. 121:

                                                                                               COMMITTEE SUMMARY

Senate Bill 121 (as introduced 1-30-13)

Sponsor:  Senator Patrick J. Colbeck

Committee:  Education

Date Completed:  6-11-13

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Revised School Code to designate, and require all public school teachers and pupils to observe, September 11 to 17 as "Constitution Week", and require schools to ensure, during Constitution Week, that topic-specific instruction was provided to pupils.

Specifically, during Constitution Week, the board of a school district, or board of directors of a public school academy, would have to ensure that the following instruction was provided to students in grades three through 12 in an age- and grade-appropriate manner:

-- At the start of the week, instruction that focused on veteran appreciation and emphasized the contributions and sacrifices of veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States.

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

-- Instruction in key "exceptional, visionary, and indispensable" American historical figures who founded and advanced the U.S.

-- Instruction in founding documents that would explore how various historical documents "embody America's first principles and have advanced liberty".

-- Instruction in American symbols that would explore how various historical flags "are key physical symbols of American history and freedom that should be studied and remembered by each American".

-- Instruction in "the sacrifices made by millions of military 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.

The bill also states, "The legislature recognizes that the 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."  Further, "The legislature acknowledges that American citizens must take time to honor the first principles, founders, documents, and symbols of their history.  The events that led to the signing of the Constitution…have significance for every American and are honored in public schools across the nation on September 17 of each year as Constitution Day."

Proposed MCL 380.1167                                              Legislative Analyst:  Glenn Steffens

FISCAL IMPACT

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

                                                                                    Fiscal Analyst:  Cameron Mock

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.