This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to mandate that all high school students must pass a civics examination, which is similar to the civics portion of the United States Naturalization Examination, as well as additional assessments on the West Virginia Constitution and the historical failures of communism and socialism. Specifically, students will be required to successfully complete a civics class that includes instruction on the West Virginia Constitution and answer questions regarding the dangers and historical failures of communism and socialism in various countries, including Russia, Cuba, and China. The bill stipulates that students must pass these tests prior to graduation, with opportunities to retake the tests monthly during their junior and senior years if they do not pass initially.

Additionally, the bill updates the timeline for administering the civics test, moving it to the 2026-2027 school year and allowing it to be taken at any point between ninth grade and graduation. The results of these tests will be reported in aggregate to the county board for evaluation purposes, but the bill clarifies that it does not create any new standards or requirements subject to state accountability measures. Overall, the bill aims to enhance civics education and ensure that students are well-informed about their government and historical ideologies.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2-9