HB 291

This bill requires the institute of American civ ics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to (i) develop materials and curricula for a baccalaureate degree program that meets the requirements of this bill and (ii) distribute the materials and curricula developed to each public institution of highe r education in this state. The curricula must be for a course of instruction that is three semester hours, or the equivalent, in American government or American history that provides a comprehensive overview of the major events and turning points of Ameri c an history and government. At a minimum, such curricula must include all of the following:  An understanding of the United States Constitution  An understanding of the Declaration of Independence  An understanding of a minimum of five essays from the Federalist Papers as selected by the course instructor  An understanding of the Emancipation Proclamation  An understanding of the Gettysburg Address  An understanding of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s letter from Birmingham jail  An understanding of at least one additional document that is foundational to the African-American freedom struggle This bill requires each public institution of higher education that offers a baccalaureate degree program to offer a course of instruction that includes the curricula develope d pursuant to this bill beginning no later than the 2025-2026 academic year. A public institution of higher education must ensure that the course of instruction includes the administration of a cumulative final examination at the conclusion of the course, testing a student's proficiency on the documents described above. REQUIRED SEMESTER HOURS AT UNIVERSITY – EXEMPTION Beginning with the entering freshmen in the 2025-2026 academic year, this bill generally requires each student of a public institution o f higher education to complete at least three semester hours, or the equivalent, of a course of instruction that is offered pursuant to this bill prior to the student obtaining a baccalaureate degree from the institution. However, a student who completes at least three semester hours, or the equivalent, in an advanced placement, international baccalaureate, or dual credit course for which the instruction includes the requirements of this bill and the course included the administration of a cumulative fina l examination at the conclusion of the course, testing a student's proficiency on the documents described above, satisfies the requirements of this bill. This bill requires each governing board of a public institution of higher education to ensure that th e requirements of this bill are incorporated into the degree requirements of all baccalaureate degree programs offered by the institution in a manner that does not (i) add to the total amount of credit hours for any degree or (ii) conflict with any school accreditation process. COMPLIANCE REPORTING This bill requires each governing board of a public institution of higher education to ensure that the institution under the governing board's jurisdiction is in compliance with this bill. Each governing board must annually submit a report to legislative committees that provides proof of the institution's compliance or incompliance with this bill.