1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to education;
providing for a civic seal designation for high school students;
1.3 proposing coding for new law
in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 120B.
1.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. [120B.112]
MINNESOTA CIVIC SEAL DESIGNATION.
1.6 Subdivision
1.Establishment. (a) A Minnesota Civic Seal designation is
established
1.7 for high school
students who have demonstrated excellence in civics education and
1.8 engagement. The
purpose of this designation is to encourage civic learning, promote active
1.9 participation in
democratic institutions, and recognize students who have achieved a high
1.10 level of civic
knowledge, skills, and community involvement.
1.11 (b) A student must meet
the following minimum criteria to be awarded the Minnesota
1.12 Civic Seal:
1.13 (1) successfully
complete coursework in civics, government, or a related subject that
1.14 meets or exceeds the
state's academic standards for civic education;
1.15 (2) participate in a
civics-related project-based assessment that demonstrates an
1.16 understanding of civic
engagement, public policy, or government operations, and complete
1.17 a self-reflection
evaluating the learning experience, impact, and personal growth gained
1.18 from the project;
1.19 (3) engage in at least
one civic activity outside the classroom, such as voting in a student
1.20 election, attending a
public meeting, participating in a community service project,
1.21 participating in Junior
Reserve Officer Training Corps, or engaging in a policy advocacy
1.22 initiative;
2.1 (4) demonstrate civic
dispositions such as civil discourse, respect for diverse perspectives,
2.2 and a commitment to
democratic principles; and
2.3 (5) meet any
additional criteria established by the department, ensuring that all students,
2.4 regardless of
background, have equitable access to earning the civic seal.
2.5 (c) The
department-developed criteria under paragraph (b), clause (5), must be broad
2.6 enough to allow any
student in any region or community of the state to earn the seal without
2.7 having to spend
personal resources to access the criteria or activity. No specific
out-of-school
2.8 or partisan civic
program or provider shall be named or required as criteria. A school district
2.9 or individual school
must not be obligated to participate in the civic seal program.
2.10 Subd. 2.Criteria
development. (a) The commissioner must convene a working group
2.11 to establish specific
criteria and guidelines for awarding the Minnesota Civic Seal. The
2.12 working group membership
must include civic educators, professional development
2.13 providers, at least one
high school student, and other civic engagement experts.
2.14 (b) The criteria and
guidelines must be broad enough to allow a student from any region
2.15 or background to earn
the civic seal without requiring any personal financial expenditure
2.16 or participation in a
specific out-of-school program.
2.17 Subd. 3.School
district or charter school participation. (a) Participation in the
2.18 Minnesota Civic Seal
program is voluntary for school districts and charter schools. A school
2.19 district or charter
school that opts into the program must:
2.20 (1) provide information
to all secondary students regarding the opportunity to earn the
2.21 civic seal and the
criteria for being awarded the recognition;
2.22 (2) maintain appropriate
records to identify students who have earned the civic seal; and
2.23 (3) affix the
appropriate insignia to the diploma of each student who earns the civic seal
2.24 and record the
designation on their official transcript.
2.25 (b) A district or
charter school must not charge a fee to a student or the student's family
2.26 for participation in
earning the civic seal.
2.27 (c) A school district or
charter school must submit an application for approval to the
2.28 commissioner to
participate. The application must include a narrative that describes the
2.29 district or charter
school's program implementation plan.
2.30 Subd. 4.Insignia
and recognition. (a) The Department of Education must develop and
2.31 distribute an official
insignia to be affixed to the diplomas of students who earn the Minnesota
2.32 Civic Seal.
3.1 (b) The department may
also provide additional materials to schools to recognize and
3.2 celebrate students who
achieve the civic seal designation.
3.3 EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective for the 2026-2027 academic school year
3.4 and applies to
students graduating in 2027 and later.
