More states adopted legislation this term requiring high school students to pass a U.S. citizenship test in order to graduate, according to a June report from the Education Commission of the States.
Since January, 19 states introduced legislation based on the Civics Education Initiative, a project from the nonprofit Joe Foss Institute with a goal of requiring all high school students to pass a 100-question test on basic history and civic facts prior to graduation.
The civics exam promoted by the Civics Education Initiative is the United States Citizenship Civics Test the same test that immigrants must pass in order to become U.S. citizens. The project is driven by the goal of ensuring all students are taught basic civics and are ready for active, engaged citizenship.
As of June, such legislation has passed in five states, and has been defeated in five states.
