MN HF1497

Students must correctly answer at least 60 of 100 civics test questions based on the U.S. citizenship and immigration services naturalization test to receive a high school diploma, effective for students graduating in the 2016-2017 school year and later.

Schools and districts determine how to administer the civics test as part of social studies curriculum and may allow secondary students to begin taking the test in grade 7 and retake it until passing.

Students with disabilities may be exempted if their individualized education program team determines the requirement is inappropriate and establishes an alternative requirement; civics test may be administered in languages other than English for English learner students.

No fees may be charged to students by the commissioner, public schools, or school districts related to the civics test requirement.

Social studies curriculum requirements are amended to include government and citizenship that includes civics consistent with the civics test standards, and school performance reports must track total students taking the civics test by grade and those who correctly answered at least 60 questions.