The following is a sampling of state-history requirements:
Alabama: Required course in 4th grade; one semester in 9th grade.
Alaska: No state requirement but typically taught in 3rd and 4th grades. Some districts require Alaska studies course for graduation.
Arkansas: New state standards require history and culture of Arkansas in grades K-8 as they relate to the nation and the world; Arkansas history course required in 7th or 8th grade.
California: Law requires state history to be incorporated within K-8 curriculum; typically taught in 4th grade.
Georgia: Unit of state studies required in 4th grade; one-year course required in 8th grade.
Illinois: Requires one hour of study a week of the Illinois Constitution in combination with other government lessons in 7th or 8th grade and in all high school grades.
Kansas: Students commonly study Kansas history, combined with the study of various regions of the world, in 4th grade; nine weeks of Kansas history and government required within grades 7-12 for graduation.
Maine: A course in the history of the state constitution, geography, and cultural and ethnic heritage is required at least once from grades 6 through 12 in both public and private schools.
Mississippi: A one-semester course is required for high school graduation.
Missouri: State history is an elective course in high school.
Nebraska: K-6 curriculum generally includes at least one semester of Nebraska studies in 4th grade; most schools also devote at least one quarter in 7th or 8th grade to state studies.
Pennsylvania: Requires integration throughout elementary, middle, junior, and senior high school history curriculum.
Tennessee: Tennessee history and regional studies are offered in 4th grade; requires study of the state constitution in the 10th or 11th grade.
Texas: Texas history required in 7th grade.
SOURCE: Council of State Social Studies Specialists.
