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Students attending South Dakota public universities may soon face a civics proficiency requirement to graduate.

Students will take three credits worth of civics education 鈥� either new classes created to meet the requirement or a general education class already in place that meets the standard. Students will not have to take more credits to graduate, said Shuree Mortenson, spokeswoman for the system.

鈥淭he student will be able to select from a list of courses that have been deemed as fulfilling that civics proficiency,鈥� Mortenson said.

The South Dakota Board of Regents held its first reading of the general education during its Thursday meeting at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. The policy will have its second reading in April and could become effective for new and transfer students in fall 2025, if approved.

鈥淭his requirement reflects our commitment to fostering informed and responsible citizens ready to meet the challenges of today鈥檚 society,鈥� Executive Director Nathan Lukkes said in a news release.

The change comes amid a renewed focus on in the state. The South Dakota Department of Education will implement in 2025. The Legislature approved nearly $1 million this year to create a at Black Hills State to help prepare civics programming and curriculum statewide.

House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, an advocate for more civics education, said he鈥檚 hopeful and enthusiastic about the regents鈥� change.

鈥淭he next generation in our universities will be leading our country one day,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hatever major they have, they need to be able to take the reins of government.鈥�

Civics proficiency will be defined as a student鈥檚 understanding of civic knowledge, values and skills, 鈥渆nabling them to actively participate in civic life as informed and responsible citizens.鈥�

The Board of Regents said key learning outcomes for the new requirement include:

• Civic knowledge: understanding the American political system, including foundational concepts such as the Constitutional framework, participatory democracy and the evolution of institutions.
• Civic values: articulating 鈥渃ore principles鈥� of democracy, justice and equality, and applying them to modern and historic situations.
• Civic skills: communicating viewpoints on political issues, engaging in civil discourse and analyzing the impact of participation on democratic processes.

鈥淭he pendulum is moving in the right direction,鈥� Odenbach said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l keep an eye on it. We鈥檒l see if it鈥檚 enough.鈥�

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. South Dakota Searchlight maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Seth Tupper for questions: [email protected].

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