AlaskaAlaska schools would add civics requirements for high school diplomas
If signed, Alaska schools would require students entering ninth grade in 2027 or later to meet specified civics requirements before receiving a diploma.
What it does
Students entering ninth grade in Alaska from July 1, 2027, would need civics instruction and a passing course, test, or project to receive a high school diploma, with exceptions for some transfers and students with disabilities.
Education officials would keep a free online list of civics materials, while department rules would allow schools to recognize students who show strong civic knowledge and skills.
Argument forA common civics course or assessment could give students broader instruction about government, rights, elections, and civic responsibilities.
Argument againstThe diploma rule could add a new hurdle for students who do not pass the course, test, or project, although transfer and disability exceptions would apply.
More detail
Schools would require students to complete approved civics learning and pass a civics course, assessment, or project before receiving a high school diploma. The requirement covers students seeking a secondary school diploma from an Alaska school. Students must receive instruction on listed government and civics topics. A passing score means at least 70 percent in a one-semester course, on a civics assessment, or on a civics project-based assessment. Schools may issue a diploma without these requirements to qualifying transfer students and students with disabilities who receive a waiver. Schools must record a passing score on the student's transcript, and students may retake the regular civics assessment as needed. The diploma requirement applies to students who enter grade nine on or after July 1, 2027. The Act would take effect July 1, 2027.
The state education board would maintain a free online list of civics teaching materials, and the department would create rules for awarding a civic-readiness seal. The resource list would cover comparative government and civics courses, assessments, and project-based assessments. The seal would recognize students with high civic knowledge, skills, mindset, and experience. School districts may use the board's resource list. The list would include topics such as American government, constitutions, elections, civil rights, policy, foreign policy, and global and Alaska Native government systems. The department would award the seal by placing it on a student's transcript and diploma. The Act would take effect July 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30(H) FN3: (EED)Latest
- Sep 30(H) FN(S) ATTACHED TO APPROP. BILL HB 263
- Sep 30(H) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/8/26
- Sep 30(S) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/8/26
- Jun 19(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 7/1/27Major
- Jun 19(S) LAW W/O GOVERNOR SIGNATURE 6/18 CHAPTER 18 SLA 26Major
- Jun 4(S) 10:14 A.M. 6/1/26 Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- May 20(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- Vote recorded (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y20 N- #2815. Result: pass.Upper
- May 20(S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y20 N-
- May 20(S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP
- May 19(H) VERSION: HCS CSSB 23(EDC)
- Vote recorded (H) PASSED Y37 N3 #2910. Result: pass.Lower
- May 19(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDEDMajor
- May 19(H) SCHRAGE, D.NELSON, FRIER, SADDLER
- May 19(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): DIBERT, MCCABE, ELAM, JOSEPHSON, HOLLAND, GALVIN, STUTES,
- May 19(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- May 19(H) PASSED Y37 N3Major
- May 19(H) READ THE THIRD TIME HCS CSSB 23(EDC)Minor
- May 19(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UCMinor
- May 19(H) AM NO 2 WITHDRAWN
- May 19(H) BEFORE HOUSE IN SECOND READING
- May 18(H) NOT TAKEN UP 5/18 - ON 5/19 CALENDAR
- May 17(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): VANCE, GRAY, HALL
- May 17(H) HELD IN SECOND READING TO 5/18 CALENDAR
- May 17(H) AM NO 2 OFFERED AND PENDING
- May 17(H) AM NO 1 NOT OFFERED
- May 17(H) EDC HCS ADOPTED UC
- May 17(H) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- May 17(H) MOVED TO BOTTOM OF CALENDAR
- May 17(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2026
- May 16(H) Moved HCS CSSB 23(EDC) Out of Committee
- May 16(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 16(H) FN3: (EED)
- May 16(H) AM: ALLARD
- May 16(H) NR: JIMMIE, TOMASZEWSKI, HANNAN, MOORE, BYNUM, STAPP
- May 16(H) DP: GALVIN, SCHRAGE, JOSEPHSON, FOSTER
- May 16(H) FIN RPT HCS(EDC) 4DP 6NR 1AM
- May 12(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 12(H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --
- May 12(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 8(H) Heard & Held
- May 8(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
- May 8(H) Minutes (HFIN)
- May 8(H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Please Note Time Change --
- May 8(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
- May 8(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): STAPP
- Apr 13(H) Minutes (HEDC)
- Apr 13(H) Moved HCS SB 23(EDC) Out of Committee
- Apr 13(H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
- Apr 13(H) FN3: (EED)
- Apr 13(H) DP: SCHWANKE, ELAM, DIBERT, UNDERWOOD, EISCHEID, HIMSCHOOT, STORY
- Apr 13(H) EDC RPT HCS(EDC) 7DP
- Apr 1(H) Minutes (HEDC)
- Apr 1(H) Heard & Held
- Apr 1(H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
- Mar 18(H) Minutes (HEDC)
- Mar 18(H) Heard & Held
- Mar 18(H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106
- Mar 11(H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): EISCHEID
- Mar 11(H) EDC, FIN
- Mar 11(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- Mar 9(S) VERSION: CSSB 23(FIN)
- Vote recorded (S) PASSED Y20 N- #1872. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)Passed House
- Mar 9(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- Mar 9(S) PASSED Y20 N-Passed Senate
- Mar 5(S) HELD IN THIRD READING TO 3/9 CALMinor
- Mar 5(S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 23(FIN)Minor
- Mar 4(S) CRONK, KAWASAKI, WIELECHOWSKI, YUNDT
- Mar 4(S) COSPONSOR(S): TOBIN, KAUFMAN, TILTON, CLAMAN, STEDMAN, RAUSCHER, GIESSEL,
- Mar 4(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 3/5 CALMinor
- Mar 4(S) FIN CS ADOPTED UC
- Mar 4(S) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- Mar 4(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/4/2026
- Mar 4(S) FN2: (EED)
- Mar 4(S) NR: MERRICK, KIEHL
- Mar 4(S) DP: OLSON, STEDMAN, HOFFMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK
- Mar 4(S) FIN RPT CS 5DP 2NR SAME TITLE
- Mar 3(S) Moved CSSB 23(FIN) Out of Committee
- Mar 3(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
- Feb 11(S) Minutes (SFIN)
- Feb 11(S) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --
- Feb 11(S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
- 2025
- Feb 28(S) FN1: INDETERMINATE(EED)
- Feb 28(S) NR: BJORKMAN, KIEHL
- Feb 28(S) DP: TOBIN, CRONK, STEVENS
- Feb 28(S) EDC RPT 3DP 2NR
- Feb 26(S) Minutes (SEDC)
- Feb 26(S) Moved SB 23 Out of Committee **Streamed live on AKL.tv**
- Feb 26(S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Feb 24(S) Minutes (SEDC)
- Feb 24(S) Heard & Held
- Feb 24(S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Feb 21(S) -- Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --
- Feb 21(S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Feb 12(S) Minutes (SEDC)
- Feb 12(S) Heard & Held
- Feb 12(S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Feb 5(S) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --
- Feb 5(S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- Jan 24(S) COSPONSOR(S): GRAY-JACKSON
- Jan 22(S) EDC, FIN
- Jan 22(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- Jan 22(S) Prefile released 1/10/25Introduced
EducationCivil Rights & VotingGovernment & Ethics