A state law recently signed by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has elevated civics to a high school graduation requirement.
Public schools are now required to offer two years of social studies, including at least one year of U.S. history or a combination of U.S. history and American government. They also must teach American patriotism and principles of representative government, as well as proper use of the American flag.
The Chicago Tribune reports that many school districts across Illinois will need to prepare to offer the kind of civics instruction required in the state new law.
Shawn Healy, a civics scholar at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, chaired a state-appointed task force on civics education. He says about 60 percent of high schools already require a civics or government course.