Bill > HF175

This bill mandates that all students in grades nine through twelve in Iowa public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools must successfully complete or pass a civics examination as a requirement for high school graduation, in addition to receiving instruction in American history and the governments of Iowa and the United States. The civics examination will be identical to the one administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), requiring students to score at least sixty percent without using any outside materials. The bill also allows for alternative assessment measures approved by the Department of Education for students requiring special education or who are identified as limited English proficient. Students will have at least one opportunity per school year to take the exam, and can start taking it as early as seventh grade, with passing it in seventh or eighth grade fulfilling the graduation requirement. This new requirement applies to students graduating in the 2016-2017 school year and beyond, and any costs associated with implementing this mandate will be covered by state school foundation aid.