SB 1953

Present law requires the state board of education to include in the social studies curriculum standards designed to educate children about the United States and Tennessee governments, at the appropriate grade level or levels in high school, as determined by the state board of education through standards and the local board of education through curriculum, courses, and content. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, and in conjunction with the social studies curriculum described above, this bill requires each LEA and public charter school to present a civics instructional video approved by the state board of education at lea st once to students in grades 6-8 and at least once to students in grades 9-12. The state board must approve at least one civics instructional video for such purposes no later than July 1, 2027. However, the state board must not create or request an ind iv idual or entity to create a video for such purposes. This bill requires an approved civics instructional video approved to meet all of the following criteria:  Be historically accurate and devoid of political advocacy.  Include information about the Declaration of Independence, specifically the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, and the meaning behind and purpose of the quote, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.""  Include information about the religious affiliation and moral beliefs of the founding fathers involved with the Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional Convention. ON MARCH 9, 2026, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2395, AS AMENDED. AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to require the state textbook and instructional materials quality commission to recommend to the state board of education for approval at least one civics instructional video that meets the requirements described in the Summary for the introduced bill, no later than February 1, 2027. Th is amendment prohibits the commission from creat ing or request ing an other to create such a video. This amendment requires the state board to approve at least one civics instructional video b y July 1, 2027 . Present law generally exempts supplemental instructional materials from the commission's review process. This amendment specifies that the board-approved civics videos will be considered supplemental instructional material s . Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, this amendment requires each LEA and public charter school shall, as part of the social studies curriculum, to present a civics instructional video approved by the state board of education least once to students in grades six through eight and at least once to students in grades nine through 1 2."