SF4826

Purpose

• To modify Minnesota’s social studies standards by adding content about the dangers and perils of communism and socialism and to require related updates during the standards review. The bill also makes changes related to arts education, health education, and child sexual abuse prevention within school curricula.

Main Provisions

• Social studies standards update

  • The commissioner must include in social studies standards content about the dangers and perils of communism and socialism, including estimated lives lost under those systems and negative outcomes associated with them.
  • This content must be addressed during the 2030-2031 review and revision of the social studies standards.

• Required academic standards (general framework)

  • Public schooling must continue to cover specified subject areas for statewide accountability: language arts; mathematics (including algebra II, integrated math III or equivalent, and preparation for 3 math credits in high school); science (earth and space, life, physical sciences, chemistry, physics); social studies (history, geography, economics, government, civics); physical education; health; and the arts.
  • Elementary and middle schools must offer at least three arts areas, and must require at least two of the following: dance, media arts, music, theater, visual arts.
  • High schools must offer at least three arts areas and require at least one of the five areas (media arts, dance, music, theater, visual arts).

• Special education and standards applicability

  • For purposes of federal law, the academic standards apply to all students except a very small number with extreme cognitive or physical impairments for whom an IEP team has determined the standards are inappropriate.
  • An IEP team that makes this determination must establish alternative standards.

• Child sexual abuse prevention (health instruction)

  • A school district may include child sexual abuse prevention instruction in the health curriculum.
  • This instruction may cover age-appropriate topics such as recognizing sexual abuse, boundary violations, grooming, and strategies to promote disclosure, reduce self-blame, and mobilize bystanders.
  • Instruction can be delivered through an annual assembly or classroom presentations.
  • Districts may also provide parents with information on warning signs and available resources.

• Implementation and alignment

  • District efforts to develop, implement, or improve instruction or curriculum under these provisions must be consistent with existing sections 120B.10, 120B.11, and 120B.20.
  • Locally developed health standards will apply until statewide health standards rules are implemented.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a mandatory content focus on the dangers and perils of communism and socialism to the social studies standards, including an emphasis on estimated lives lost and associated negative outcomes.
• Establishes a specific timeline for reviewing and revising social studies standards (during the 2030-2031 review).
• Expands arts education requirements for elementary, middle, and high schools (minimum number of arts areas to offer and require).
• Maintains the existing framework for language arts, mathematics, and science standards but reiterates the IEP process for students for whom these standards are inappropriate.
• Introduces an optional child sexual abuse prevention component within health education, with guidance on content and delivery and a mechanism to share information with parents.
• Clarifies alignment obligations with existing Minnesota education laws and rules, including health standards timelines and local vs statewide rule development.

Implementation Notes

• The changes will affect curriculum planning, standard setting, and professional development for teachers, particularly in social studies, health, and arts.
• School districts will need to coordinate with special education teams to determine appropriate alternative standards for students with IEPs where the standard requirements are unsuitable.
• The inclusion of content on communism and socialism may require sourcing and presenting historical perspectives and outcomes in a balanced, age-appropriate manner.

Relevant Terms - dangers and perils of communism and socialism - estimated lives lost under communism and socialism - negative outcomes associated with communism and socialism - social studies standards - 2030-2031 review and revision - social studies including history, geography, economics, government, civics - citizenship that includes civics - individualized education program (IEP) - IEP team; alternative standards - child sexual abuse prevention instruction - health curriculum - age-appropriate instruction; recognizing sexual abuse; boundary violations; grooming; disclosure; self-blame; mobilize bystanders - annual assembly; classroom presentation - parental information on warning signs and resources - Sections 120B.10, 120B.11, 120B.20 - locally developed health standards; statewide health standards - arts education (dance, media arts, music, theater, visual arts) - language arts; mathematics; science; earth and space science; life science; physical sciences; chemistry; physics - public elementary/middle/high school arts requirements