ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session

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HB2632: civics test; passing score

Sponsor: Representative Nguyen, LD 1

Committee on Education

Overview

Requires a student to correctly answer at least 70, rather than 60, questions on the required civics test to graduate from high school. Establishes reporting requirements for schools, the State Board of Education (SBE) and the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) regarding the civics test.

History

Statute requires the competency requirements prescribed by SBE for social studies to include a requirement that, to graduate from high school or obtain a high school equivalency diploma, a pupil answer at least 60 questions correctly on a test that is identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

School district governing boards and charter school governing bodies determine the administration of the required civics test but must document on a pupil's transcript whether the student has passed the test. Statute allows a pupil to retake the civics test until they obtain a passing score (A.R.S. § 15-701.01).

Provisions

1. Increases, from 60 to 70, the number of questions a student must correctly answer on the required civics test to graduate from high school or obtain a high school equivalency diploma. (Sec. 1)

2. Mandates a school document on a pupil's transcript that the pupil has passed or failed the required civics test. (Sec. 1)

3. Permits a pupil who is in 7th or 8th grade to take the required civics test. (Sec 1)

4. Exempts a pupil in the 7th or 8th grade who correctly answers at least 70 questions on the required civics test from being required to take the test again in high school. (Sec. 1)

5. Directs each school district and charter school to report, by grade level and to SBE, the following regarding the required civics test:

a) The median score;

b) The percentage of pupils who passed by correctly answering at least 70 questions;

c) The percentage of pupils who failed by correctly answering fewer than 70 questions; and

d) Any other data required by SBE. (Sec. 1)

6. Requires SBE to provide the data to ADE and ADE to make the data publicly available on the website that includes the school report cards. (Sec. 1)

7. Prohibits a school district or charter school from including a pupil's personally identifiable information in the data reported to SBE. (Sec. 1)

8. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

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12.                   HB 2632

13. Initials CH/MR      Page 0 Education

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