Alaska asks for free civics materials ahead of new graduation requirement

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development on Friday asked publishers, nonprofits, educational institutions and content developers to submit free civics materials for a statewide list required under the state's new civics graduation law. Responses are due Nov. 6 at 5 pm AKST.

The bill passed the House 37-3 in May, as Alaska News reported May 19, and became law without the governor's signature June 18. Students who enter ninth grade on or after July 1, 2027, can't receive a diploma unless they get instruction on 14 required civics topics and score 70 percent or higher through a one-semester course, a civics test they may retake or a project-based assessment.

The State Board of Education must post and update the list, and districts may use it. According to the department's fiscal note, a House Education Committee rewrite dropped a requirement that the department build a statewide curriculum and assessments, leaving it to post existing free resources.

The request is for information only and commits the state to buy nothing. Only free open educational resources qualify: materials anyone may use at no cost and freely reuse, adapt and share. Respondents must show where each resource covers each required topic, which include founding history, federalism, the U.S. and Alaska constitutions, political parties and comparative systems of government used globally and by Alaska Natives.

An attached rubric scores submissions on eight criteria, including nonpartisanship and Alaska relevance. It says activities should support student agency "rather than promote a particular political position or outcome."