HB 320 - AS INTRODUCED
2021 SESSION
21-0357
06/04
HOUSE BILL 320
AN ACT requiring a civics competency assessment as a high school graduation
requirement.
SPONSORS: Rep. Moffett, Merr. 9; Rep. Pearl, Merr. 26; Rep. Lang, Belk. 4; Rep. Rouillard,
Hills. 6; Rep. Shaw, Hills. 16; Rep. Hobson, Rock. 35
COMMITTEE: Education
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires high school students to attain a grade of 70 percent or better on the civics
naturalization examination developed by the United States Citizen and Immigration Service.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
 HB 320 - AS INTRODUCED
21-0357
06/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
AN ACT requiring a civics competency assessment as a high school graduation
requirement.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 1 Civics Instruction. Amend RSA 189:11, II to read as follows:
2 II. As a component of instruction under paragraph I, a locally developed competency
3 assessment of United States government and civics that includes, but is not limited to, the nature,
4 purpose, structure, function, and history of the United States government, the rights and
5 responsibilities of citizens, and noteworthy government and civic leaders, shall be administered to
6 students as part of the required high school course in history and government of the United States
7 and New Hampshire. [Students who attain a passing grade on the competency assessment shall be
8 eligible for a certificate issued by the school district. The United States Citizenship and Immigration
9 Services (USCIS) test may be used to satisfy the requirement of this paragraph.] To be eligible for
10 a graduation certificate, a student shall attain a locally sanctioned passing grade on the
11 competency assessment, and a grade of 70 percent or better on the 100 question civics
12 (history and government) naturalization examination developed by the 2020 United States
13 Citizen and Immigration Services. Schools may modify the naturalization examination for
14 a child with a disability in accordance with the child's individualized education program.
15 By June 30 of each year, each school district shall submit the results of either the locally developed
16 competency assessment of United States government and civics or the United States Citizenship and
17 Immigration Services (USCIS) test to the department of education.
18 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.


Statutes affected:
Introduced: 189:11
latest version: 189:11