High School Social Studies Requirements Boosted
By Monica Mendoza

The Arizona Republic, July 1, 2003
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0701social01.html

Arizona high school students must now study the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the lasting impact of Greek and Roman civilizations.

The State Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved changes to the state's social studies standards, a move pushed by Superintendent Tom Horne.

Before the change, state standards called for teaching American history through the Civil War in seventh grade and for eighth-graders to learn about the Constitution.

"Students who are 12 and 13 years old are too young to fully absorb these important concepts," Horne said.

When Horne took office in January, he pledged that social studies would be revisited in the high school grades.

Civics teachers rejoiced. Three years ago when Arizona's social studies standards were revamped, some teachers said not enough time was spent on the U.S. Constitution and American history.

Under the latest revisions, students must learn the political, economic and social characteristics of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations and their impact on later civilizations. They will study the Revolutionary War and the role of the Founding Fathers.

High school teachers can start teaching these topics this fall. They are required to teach them by the 2004-05 school year.

In Arizona, high school students take 2½ years of social studies, including economics, world history and geography. Horne's plan stopped short of changing those requirements. Such a change would require deleting some other subject or adding a graduation credit, which would be expensive, Horne said.