ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: ED DPA 10-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 59-0-1-0

Senate: ED DP 8-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 22-7-1-0

HB2632: civics test; passing score

Sponsor: Representative Nguyen, LD 1

Transmitted to the Governor

Overview

Requires, beginning with the graduating class of 2026, students to correctly answer at least 70 questions on the civics test to graduate from high school. Establishes reporting requirements for schools and the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) regarding the civics test.

History

Currently, the competency requirements prescribed by the State Board of Education for social studies must require that, to graduate from high school or obtain a high school equivalency diploma, a student 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.   Requires, through the graduating class of 2025, students to correctly answer 60 questions on the required civics test to graduate from high school or obtain a high school equivalency diploma. (Sec. 1)

2.   Increases from 60 to 70, beginning with the graduating class of 2026, 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)

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

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

5.   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)

6.   Details the data each school district and charter school must report, by grade level and to ADE, regarding the required civics test. (Sec. 1)

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

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

9.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteMakes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

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13.                    HB 2632

14.  Initials CH/MR      Page 0 Transmitted

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