This bill mandates that students in Iowa must pass the United States citizenship and immigration services naturalization civics test as a requirement for high school graduation and obtaining high school equivalency diplomas. The director of the department of education is tasked with developing and distributing the civics test to various educational institutions, including public and accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools. The test will be updated every five years, and schools are required to administer it to students in grades 9 through 12. A passing score, defined as answering at least 60% of the questions correctly, is necessary for graduation, and students may retake the test as needed without incurring any fees.

Additionally, the bill allows for modifications to the test for students with individualized education programs, those with significant intellectual disabilities, and English learners. Schools must report the results of the civics test to the department of education annually, and the state board of education is responsible for establishing rules to implement these requirements. The bill also amends existing laws to ensure that the civics test is a condition for receiving a high school equivalency diploma, thereby reinforcing the importance of civic knowledge in the educational curriculum.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 256.9, 256E.7, 280.9A