Purpose

• The bill aims to modify Minnesota’s education standards so that social studies curricula explicitly address the dangers and perils of communism and socialism. It also sets how these standards will be reviewed and revised, and updates related health and arts requirements and policies for schools.

What changes the bill makes to law

• It amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 120B.021 subdivision 1 to outline required statewide standards across several subject areas and to specify how schools must implement arts, health, and other core subjects.
• Key areas included:
  • Social studies: to cover history, geography, economics, government, and citizenship (including civics).
  • Arts: requires public schools to offer and require a minimum number of arts areas (different requirements for elementary/middle schools versus high schools).
  • Other core subjects: language arts, mathematics (with particular high school course expectations), science, physical education, and health.
  • Special education: an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team can determine that some students with severe cognitive or physical impairments should follow alternative standards.
  • Health and child safety: districts may include age-appropriate child sexual abuse prevention instruction in health curricula; districts may provide information to parents about warning signs and resources.
  • Policy alignment: district instruction must be consistent with existing sections governing education (e.g., sections 120B.10, 120B.11, and 120B.20).
  • Health standards: locally developed health standards may continue until statewide health standards are implemented.
  • Social studies requirements: the commissioner must explicitly include the dangers and perils of communism and socialism (including estimated lives lost and negative outcomes) in social studies standards during the next major review cycle.

Main provisions in plain terms

• Social studies content: History, geography, economics, government, and civics remain core components; the bill requires that the dangers and perils of communism and socialism be addressed within these standards, with attention to historical consequences.
• Timelines for revision: The explicit requirement to include the dangers and perils of communism and socialism will be addressed during the 2030-2031 review and revision of social studies standards.
• Instructional practice and family involvement: Districts may implement age-appropriate child safety instruction in health class and can share warning signs and resources with parents.
• Accessibility and equity: If students have significant disabilities, IEP teams can set alternative standards so that they still receive an appropriate education.
• Health standards transition: Until statewide health standards are finalized, districts may continue with locally developed health standards.

How it affects schools and students

• What schools must do:
  • Maintain and deliver a broad set of required subjects, with concrete arts requirements for both elementary/middle and high schools.
  • Provide and/or adapt health instruction to include child sexual abuse prevention if desired, and keep parents informed about signs and resources.
  • Ensure that social studies curricula include content on the dangers and perils of communism and socialism, to be added during the next major social studies standards review (2030-2031).
  • Apply alternative standards for students with significant disabilities if recommended by an IEP team.
• What stays the same or is clarified:
  • The overarching framework for core subjects and arts offerings remains, with specified requirements for arts exposure in different school levels.
  • Health standards may remain locally developed until statewide rules are adopted.

Implementation considerations

• The key new element to monitor is the inclusion of the dangers and perils of communism and socialism in social studies content, to be enacted at the 2030-2031 standards review.
• Districts must balance the new content with other mandated standards and ensure alignment with existing education laws.

Significant changes at a glance

• Adds explicit requirement to address the dangers and perils of communism and socialism in social studies standards, including estimated lives lost and negative outcomes.
• Establishes the 2030-2031 timeline for revising social studies standards to include that content.
• Expands and clarifies arts requirements and maintains local health standards until statewide rules are in place.
• Introduces optional child sexual abuse prevention instruction within health curricula and strengthens family information sharing.

Relevant Terms - social studies standards - dangers and perils of communism and socialism - estimated lives lost under communism and socialism - negative outcomes associated with communism and socialism - 2030-2031 review and revision - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 120B.021 subdivision 1 - civics - IEP (individualized education program) and alternative standards - child sexual abuse prevention instruction - health standards - locally developed health standards - arts requirements (dance, media arts, music, theater, visual arts) - language arts - mathematics (including algebra II and related pathways) - science (earth and space, life science, physical sciences) - social studies content areas (history, geography, economics, government) - district consistency with sections 120B.10, 120B.11, and 120B.20