Missouri

Title 11. Education and Libraries
Chapter 170. Instruction--Materials and Subjects

Section 170.011 R.S.Mo. (2005) – Courses in the constitutions, American history and Missouri government, required, penalty--student awards--requirements not applicable to foreign exchange students

1. Regular courses of instruction in the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri and in American history and institutions shall be given in all public and private schools in the state of Missouri, except privately operated trade schools, and shall begin not later than the seventh grade and continue in high school to an extent determined by the state commissioner of education, and shall continue in college and university courses to an extent determined by the state commissioner of higher education. In the 1990-91 school year and each year thereafter, local school districts maintaining high schools shall comply with the provisions of this section by offering in grade nine, ten, eleven, or twelve a course of instruction in the institutions, branches and functions of the government of the state of Missouri, including local governments, and of the government of the United States, and in the electoral process. A local school district maintaining such a high school shall require that prior to the completion of the twelfth grade each pupil, who receives a high school diploma or certificate of graduation on or after January 1, 1994, shall satisfactorily complete such a course of study. Such course shall be of at least one semester in length and may be two semesters in length. The department of elementary and secondary education may provide assistance in developing such a course if the district requests assistance.

2. American history courses at the elementary and secondary levels shall include in their proper time-line sequence specific referrals to the details and events of the racial equality movement that have caused major changes in United States and Missouri laws and attitudes.

3. No pupil shall receive a certificate of graduation from any public or private school other than private trade schools unless he has satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions. A student of a college or university, who, after having completed a course of instruction prescribed in this section and successfully passed an examination on the United States Constitution, and in American history and American institutions required hereby, transfers to another college or university, is not required to complete another such course or pass another such examination as a condition precedent to his graduation from the college or university. . . .

[This statute was located on July 19, 2005 and may have been modified or amended since that date.]