Across the States
Civics In, Government and History Out
The required subjects for Rhode Island homeschoolers recently changed because of an amendment to Rhode Island General Law 16-22-2.
The new subject is “civics”—a welcome simplification that takes the place of several previously required subjects: United States history, Rhode Island history, principles of American government, Rhode Island government, U.S. Constitution, and Rhode Island Constitution.
Formerly, these related subjects were not required to be taught before the beginning of 4th grade. With the change, however, civics is now required every year.
Additional language adopted by the legislature may cause some local confusion. The legislature ordered the Rhode Island Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education to develop content standards for public school civics classes. The legislature specified that the standards must include Rhode Island state history, representative government, the rights and duties of actively engaged citizenship, and the principles of democracy.
While some school districts may assume that homeschooling families must follow these public school content standards, this assumption is incorrect.
The Rhode Island Department of Education has previously determined that content standards designed for public schools do not apply to homeschooling families. Therefore, the content standards for civics do not apply to homeschooling families. Homeschoolers are required to cover civics each year, but they are not required to include the same content as the public school civics courses.
Another possible source of confusion lies in the fact that the list of required subjects within the home instruction statute itself was not amended. The list still refers to “the history of the United States, the history of Rhode Island, and the principles of American government.” However, the home instruction statute only requires that the subjects listed be taught “…to the same extent as these subjects are required to be taught in the public schools.” Since state law no longer requires that these topics be taught as independent subjects in public schools, this effectively negates them as required topics for homeschooling families as well.
If you file an annual letter of intent and list the subjects you will be teaching, be sure to include civics next time, and feel free to eliminate any reference to subjects that are no longer required.* Remember that civics is required every school year. And keep in mind that since 2008 is a transitional year, many school districts may be unaware of the change in the law and may question your revised notice of intent.
— by Scott A. Woodruff
* See “A plethora of forms”
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