This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to mandate that all high school students must pass a civics examination, specifically the civics portion of the United States Naturalization Examination, as a prerequisite for graduation. The bill stipulates that beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, students will be required to take this test at some point between the 9th grade and graduation. Additionally, students must successfully pass the test before they can graduate, with opportunities to retake the test monthly during their junior and senior years if they do not pass initially. Furthermore, students will be required to complete a civics class that includes instruction on the West Virginia Constitution.

The bill also includes provisions for the state board to provide testing instruments aligned with academic standards for history and civics courses, ensuring that these assessments measure students' knowledge comprehensively. The results of these tests will be reported to the county board for evaluation purposes, although the bill clarifies that it does not create any new state accountability measures. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance civics education and ensure that students are adequately prepared for their roles as informed citizens.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2-9