Legislative hearing: LB225 (civic education)

LB225,  a civic education bill from State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, will receive a public hearing at 1:30 pm CST on Jan. 23 in room 1525 of the Nebraska State Capitol. The bill would add a student representative to each Nebraska school district’s Committee on American Civics, which ensures that social studies curriculum provides foundational civic knowledge and aligns with state standards.

Each district committee is required to hold at least two public meetings annually and ensure that the district’s social studies curriculum is accessible to the public. It also assesses the district’s alignment with state social studies standards and teaches knowledge in “civics, history, economics, financial literacy, and geography.”

In addition, LB225 would enable students to meet high school civic education requirements by serving as a poll worker. This new option would join a series of existing standards and activities, including taking a written test, attending and participating in public meetings, and writing papers and making presentations about what they have learned.

Civic Nebraska supports this legislation and encourages those in support to submit written testimony or to testify in person.