2020 Colorado State Board of Education Civics Standards by Grade, K-8

Civics is one of four standards in the area of social studies. The others are: history, geography, and economics. Below are the 2020 standards for civics education for grades K-8, noting where the standards refer to including factual information on the US government or Colorado government:

Kindergarten – No Reference to US or Colorado government

1. Participate in making fair and reasoned decisions using democratic traditions.

First Grade – Reference to American and Colorado flags, civic holidays, places, symbols, and leaders; otherwise, none. 

1. Effective groups have responsible leaders and team members.
2. Notable people, places, holidays, and civic symbols.

Second Grade – No reference to US or Colorado government

1. Advocate for ideas to improve communities.
2. Identify and compare multiple ways that people understand and resolve conflicts and differences.

Third Grade – No reference to US or Colorado government

1. Respect the views and rights of others.
2. The origins, structures, and functions of local government.

Fourth Grade

1. Identify, investigate, and analyze multiple perspectives on civic issues.
2. The origins, structures, and functions of the Colorado government.

Fifth Grade

1. Construct an understanding of the foundations of citizenship in the United States.
2. The origins, structures, and functions of the United States government.

Sixth Grade

1. Analyze the relationships of different nations in the Western Hemisphere.
2. Systems of government in the Western Hemisphere.

Seventh Grade

1. Analyze the civic similarities and differences within governmental systems in the Eastern Hemisphere.
2. Nations in various regions of the Eastern Hemisphere interact with international organizations, govern, organize, and impact their societies in different ways.

Eighth Grade

1. Construct an understanding of the changing definition of citizenship and the expansion of rights of citizens in the United States.
2. The purpose and place of rule of law in a constitutional system.

Source: 2020 Colorado Academic Standards: Social Studies, All Students, All Standards. Colorado Department of Education.