Sutherland Institute’s public comment on the new civics course standards

• The passage of last year’s H.B. 381 and this year’s H.B. 312 and S.B. 268 adjust Utah’s civics and social studies requirements.
• Those interested in doing so can find the draft standards for the new American Constitutional Government here and Citizenship course and survey here. The deadline for public comment is April 24, 11:59 pm.

Recently, Utah lawmakers have been adjusting civics and social studies requirements. Last year, during the 2025 general legislative session, H.B. 381 Civics Education Amendments passed, increasing the number of required social studies credits from 3.0 to 3.5 and replacing the previous U.S. Government and Citizenship course with a new course called American Constitutional Government and Citizenship.  

During the 2026 general legislative session, lawmakers continued to adjust in this area. H.B. 312 School Curriculum and Standards Modifications, for instance, covers a lot of ground in bolstering social studies instruction and requires that this new course be taught in two distinct semesters. Likewise, S.B. 268 Religious Curriculum in Schools requires that state standards “examine the fundamental role of religion in United States history and the primacy of religious liberty to American constitutional government.”  

State lawmakers are clearly prioritizing these issues, and we are encouraged that they think this is a discussion worth having. America’s students need a better understanding of our nation’s history, our unique government, and their responsibilities within it. Sutherland Institute has supported improvements to civics education for years and backed both H.B. 381 last year and S.B. 268 this year as prudent steps toward helping students do just that. 

As a result of H.B. 381, which was passed two sessions ago and created a brand-new course, the Utah State Board of Education is now tasked with developing academic standards for the course and seeking public comment. Keeping in mind the legislation that passed this year as well, we offered public comment on the draft standards for the American Constitutional Government and Citizenship course, which can be seen below. 

Public comment text 

Strand 1, Standard 1.4: Language should be added to emphasize how early colonial religious traditions led to the primacy of religious liberty in the American constitutional government that would come later.   

Strand 1, Standard 1.5: In analyzing the Declaration of Independence and identifying where the text implies certain concepts, a provision should be added to identify how the Declaration of Independence undergirds the primacy of religious liberty in our government and demonstrates the role of religion in United States history. 

Strand 4, Standard 4.5: As students examine the abolitionists’ changing views, language should be added to discuss how religious thought influenced the abolitionist movement.  

Strand 4, Standard 4.8: Language should be added to emphasize how religious thought and rhetoric at the time influenced the push for Women’s Suffrage and the 20th-century Civil Rights Movements. 

Strand 5, Standard 5.1: As students analyze, compare, and contrast the Utah Constitution with the U.S. Constitution, language should be added to the standard to analyze the role of religious history and the concept of religious liberty at both the national and Utah state levels.   

Conclusion 

Utah policymakers are tackling the evident need for students to better understand their government and civic role within it, which is to be applauded. The Utah public now has an opportunity to contribute by reviewing and providing public comment on draft standards. Those interested in doing so can find the draft standards for the new American Constitutional Government and Citizenship course here and the survey for public comment here. The deadline for public comment is April 24, 11:59 p.m. We encourage Utahns to take this civic engagement opportunity to positively impact education for their students.