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SB23

Alaska SB 23: New Civics Education and Graduation Rules

Last scannedSep 10, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This law requires high school students in Alaska to complete a civics course or pass an assessment on government topics before they can graduate, starting with the class entering ninth grade after July 1, 2027.

What it does

  • Requires the state board of education to create and update a list of free online resources for teaching civics and comparative government.
  • Mandates that students receive instruction on specific topics like U.S. history, federalism, civil rights, elections, and Alaska's constitution.
  • Makes passing one semester of a civics course or achieving a 70% score on a civics assessment required for high school graduation.
  • Allows schools to award a 'seal of civic readiness' on transcripts and diplomas to students who show high proficiency in civic knowledge, skills, mindset, and experiences.
  • Sets the effective date so these rules apply only to students entering ninth grade on or after July 1, 2027.

Who it affects

  • Public school districts that may use state-provided resources for civics instruction.
  • High school students who need to meet new requirements to receive a diploma.
  • Students transferring from other states or those with disabilities, who may qualify for exceptions under specific conditions.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not specify which exact textbooks or materials schools must use, only that the state will provide a list of options.
  • It is unclear how many students might qualify for waivers based on disabilities until school governing bodies make individual decisions.
  • The specific details of the 'civics project-based assessment' are not defined in this text and may depend on future regulations.

Plain language

Terms to know

Open educational resource
Learning materials that are free to use and can be shared, changed, or redistributed by others without cost.
Passing score
A grade of 70 percent or higher on a course, assessment, or project-based task required for graduation.
Seal of civic readiness
An official mark placed on a student's transcript and diploma showing they have high skills in civics knowledge, skills, mindset, and experiences.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

CIVICS EDUCATION An Act relating to civics education, civics assessments, and secondary school graduation requirements; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) FN3: (EED)
  2. (H) FN(S) ATTACHED TO APPROP. BILL HB 263
  3. (H) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/8/26
  4. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 7/1/273023
  5. (S) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 6/18 CH 18 SLA 263023
  6. (S) 10:14 A.M. 6/1/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR2957
  7. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2816
  8. (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y20 N-2815
  9. (S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP2815
  10. (H) VERSION: HCS CSSB 23(EDC)2956
  11. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDED2956
  12. (H) SCHRAGE, D.NELSON, FRIER, SADDLER2954
  13. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): DIBERT, MCCABE, ELAM, JOSEPHSON, HOLLAND, GALVIN, STUTES,2954
  14. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2910
  15. (H) PASSED Y37 N32910
  16. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HCS CSSB 23(EDC)2910
  17. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC2910
  18. (H) AM NO 2 WITHDRAWN2909
  19. (H) BEFORE HOUSE IN SECOND READING2909
  20. (H) NOT TAKEN UP 5/18 - ON 5/19 CALENDAR2883

Changes

Amendments

2 stored

AM 1

AM NO 1 NOT OFFERED 2729

AM 2

AM NO 2 OFFERED AND PENDING 2729