A bill that would require Hoosier middle schoolers to take one semester of civics education is headed for its final General Assembly vote.

The bill, authored by Rep. Tony Cook (R-Cicero), would also establish statewide curriculum requirements for civics classes.

Dr. Laura Hammack is the superintendent for the Brown County School Corporation. She also sat on the task force that made recommendations and conducted research for House Bill 1384.

She said the bill and others like it across the nation could be a “game changer,” acting to protect democracy.

“We believe in what it advances which is bringing back a more intentional focus on civics education. Better understanding how our government works so that we might be better able to participate,” she said.

She adds that the bill allows for a more holistic approach to education after recent shifts to focus on standardized testing.

“It is absolutely true that as the pendulum swung toward more standardized testing, more reading, and more study of mathematics that we ended up with a lack of resource of time to be able to spend on social studies, sciences, and civics,” she said.

The bill was amended and passed out of a Senate committee last week, and will next go to the House for vote.