Signed by Governor Doug Burgum

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires elementary and secondary schools to teach indigenous history.

Highlights:

• Specifies social studies includes a mandated four-week instructional course, developed in collaboration with federally recognized Indian tribes in the state, encompassing the Native American story, including (Sec. 1-3.f):

• Contributions of Native Americans to the sociology of North Dakota;

• Current tribal relations with the state and the United States;

• Tribal history;

• Tribal sovereignty;

• Culture;

• Treaty rights;

• Socioeconomic experiences; and

• Current events.

• Establishes to be approved by the superintendent of public instruction, each public and nonpublic high school will provide instruction in and make available to each student (Sec. 2-1):

• Four units of English language arts from a sequence that includes literature, composition, and speech;

• Four units of mathematics;

• Four units of science;

• Four units of social studies, including a mandated four-week instructional unit, developed in collaboration with federally recognized Indian tribes in the state, encompassing the Native American story, including:

• Contributions of Native Americans to the sociology of North Dakota;

• Current tribal relations with the state and the United States;

• Tribal history;

• Tribal sovereignty;

• Culture;

• Treaty rights;

• Socioeconomic experiences; and

• Current events;

• One-half unit of health;

• One-half unit of physical education during each school year, provided that once every four years the unit must be a concept-based fitness class that includes instruction in the assessment, improvement, and maintenance of personal fitness;

• Two units of fine arts, at least one of which must be music;

• Two units of the same foreign or native American language;

• One unit of an advanced placement course or one unit of a dual-credit course; and

• Two units of career and technical education from a coordinated plan of study recommended by the department of career and technical education and approved by the superintendent of public instruction.

Full Bill Text