Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires high school students to pass a civics test identical to the U.S. citizenship test to graduate in Iowa.

Highlights:

• Requires high school students to pass a civics test identical to the U.S. citizenship test with at least a 60% score to graduate in Iowa (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that this requirement shall apply to any individual seeking a high school equivalency diploma (Sec. 1-4).

• Authorizes students who fail to correctly answer at least 60% of the questions may retake the test as many times as needed to receive a passing score (Sec. 1-4).

• Requires the Iowa Department of Education director to develop and distribute to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools a multiple-choice exam aligned with the most recent version of the civics test developed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that schools may modify the exam for students with disabilities and for English language learners (Sec. 1-4).

• Requires the director to update the exam on or before January 1, following a presidential election, instead of every 5 years (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that schools would have to report results to the Iowa Department of Education annually (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits schools from imposing any fee in administering the test (Sec. 1-4).

• Authorizes the department to conduct a study looking at the relationship between the passage rate on the civics test and high school graduation rates (Sec. 1-4).

• Requires that the study be submitted to the Legislature by June 30, 2029 (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires high school students to pass a civics test identical to the U.S. citizenship test to graduate in Iowa.

Highlights:

• Requires high school students to pass a civics test identical to the U.S. citizenship test with at least a 60% score to graduate in Iowa (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that this requirement shall apply to any individual seeking a high school equivalency diploma (Sec. 1-4).

• Authorizes students who fail to correctly answer at least 60% of the questions may retake the test as many times as needed to receive a passing score (Sec. 1-4).

• Requires the Iowa Department of Education director to develop and distribute to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools a multiple-choice exam aligned with the most recent version of the civics test developed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that schools may modify the exam for students with disabilities and for English language learners (Sec. 1-4).

• Requires the director to update the exam on or before January 1, following a presidential election, instead of every 5 years (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that schools would have to report results to the Iowa Department of Education annually (Sec. 1-4).

• Prohibits schools from imposing any fee in administering the test (Sec. 1-4).

• Authorizes the department to conduct a study looking at the relationship between the passage rate on the civics test and high school graduation rates (Sec. 1-4).

• Requires that the study be submitted to the Legislature by June 30, 2029 (Sec. 1-4).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text