American Civics and History Act

HB 4104, the American Civics and History Act, requires all West Virginia public schools to teach at least one semester of U.S. history, one semester of U.S. and West Virginia government, and one semester of American civics before eighth and twelfth grades. The courses must cover government structures (like separation of powers and federalism), analyze political ideologies (including democracy and socialism) using primary sources such as the Constitution and Federalist Papers, and emphasize interactive learning like debates. All instructional materials must be reviewed and approved by the West Virginia Department of Education every four years, with factual errors corrected before use. The bill supplements existing curriculum requirements without replacing them, focusing on factual accuracy and balanced discussion.