_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT revising laws related to school instruction; REVISING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BASIC INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM IN HIGH SCHOOLS TO REQUIRe A COURSE IN united states CIVICS AS PART OF DISTRICT GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, to INCLUDE COURSE OFFERINGS IN PERSONAL FINANCE AND, IF FOREIGN LANGUAGE IS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT, TO OFFER COURSES IN SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING THAT MEET THAT REQUIREMENT; AMENDING SECTION 20-7-111, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 20-7-111, MCA, is amended to read:

"20-7-111. Instruction in public schools. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) subsections (2) and (3), the board of public education shall define and specify the basic instructional program for pupils in public schools, and this program must be set forth in the standards of accreditation. Other instruction may be given when approved by the board of trustees.

(2)        The trustees of a school district shall ensure that all pupils in grades 3 through 12 receive instruction about the United States constitution and the pledge of allegiance.

(3)        The trustees of a high school or K-12 district shall:

(a)        as part of district graduation requirements in social studies, include a course of at least one-half unit in United States civics;

(b)        as part of the district's math course offerings that meet district graduation requirements, offer a course in personal finance of at least one-half unit; and

(c)        if the district requires foreign language courses as part of district graduation requirements, offer courses in software programming that may be taken in the place of foreign language courses to meet the requirements."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.