Committee Action:
Do Pass ____________
Amend & Do Pass ____________
Other ____________
Senate Education
This measure may be considered for action during today’s work session.
April 13, 2017
SENATE BILL 322
Requires passage of an examination in civics as a condition of receiving credit for a
course in American government. (BDR 34-993)
Sponsored by:
Date Heard:
Fiscal Impact:
Senator Denis
April 6, 2017
Effect on Local Government: May have Fiscal Impact.
Effect on the State: Yes.
Senate Bill 322 requires high school students to pass a civics examination, identical to the
civics portion of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ naturalization test, as
a condition of receiving course credit for American government.
Amendments:
The Clark County School District has proposed a friendly conceptual
amendment (attached) to:
•
Allow high schools to offer the civics portion of the nation’s
naturalization test during the School Year 2018–2019; and
•
Beginning in the School Year 2019–2020, require each high school
student, with certain exceptions, to take the test, and further require each
high school to report the aggregated test results by August 31 each year.
[Senate Bill 322]
____________
PROPOSED AMENDMENT by CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
PURPOSE: Sec 1. Allow high schools to offer a civics exam if they choose to do so. This section is
only applicable for the 2018-2019 school year.
Sec 2: Requires all high schools to offer a civics exam. The bill also requires schools to report the
results, in the aggregate, by August 31st. This section does not become applicable until the 20192020 school year
EXPLANATION: Matter in (1) blue bold italics is new language in the original bill; (2) green bold
italic underlining is new language proposed in this amendment; (3) red strikethrough is deleted
language in the original bill; (4) purple strikethrough is language proposed to be deleted in this
amendment; (5) orange double underlining is deleted language in the original bill that is proposed
to be retained in this amendment; and (6) green bold underlining is newly added transitory
language.
Sec. 1. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a public high school may
a. Administer an examination identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test adopted
by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland
Security.
b. Be responsible for:
i. Determining the specific class in which the test will be given
ii. No less than 50 questions to be administered on the test,
iii. The desired score for the examination in order to pass the class.
2.
A pupil may receive a waiver of the requirements of this subsection:
a. In accordance with her or his individualized education program
b. If the student is identified as English Language Learners and can be offered a U.S Citizens
test in the language most likely to yield accurate data of the student’s knowledge of civics.
c. At the principal’s discretion should a student have completed all other necessary academic
requirements to receive a diploma. Waivers granted under subsection 2(c) cannot exceed
10% of the graduating class of the school entity.
3. As used in this subsection, “public high school” includes, without limitation, any charter school
that operates as a high school.
4. By August 31st, if a school chooses to offer the test, the test results of the previous school year shall
be reported in the aggregate to the trustees of the school district.
Sec. 1. 2. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a pupil in any public high school must
a. Administer not be awarded credit for a course in American government unless he or she has
take an examination identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test adopted by the United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security.
b. Require every student take the exam before they are to graduate high school.
c. Be responsible for:
i. Determining the specific class in which the test will be given
ii. No less than 50 questions to be administered on the test,
iii. The desired score for the examination in order to pass the class.
and has answered correctly not less than 60 of the 100 questions on the examination. A pupil must
be allowed to take the examination as often as necessary to obtain the required score. Passage of the
examination must be noted on the transcript of the pupil.
2.
In accordance with his or her individualized education program, a A pupil with a disability may
receive a waiver of the requirements of this subsection:
a. In accordance with her or his individualized education program
b. If the student is identified as English Language Learners and can be offered a U.S Citizens
test in the language most likely to yield accurate data of the student’s knowledge of civics.
c. At the principals discretion should a student have completed all other necessary academic
requirements to receive a diploma. Waivers granted under subsection 2(c) cannot exceed
10% of the graduating class of the school entity.
3. As used in this subsection, “public high school” includes, without limitation, any charter school that
operates as a high school.
4. By August 31st, the test results of the previous school year shall be reported in the aggregate to the
trustees of the school district.
Sec. 2 3. Section 1 of this act becomes effective July 1, 2018
Section 2 of Tthis act becomes effective on July 1, 2017 July 1, 2019.
CONTACT PERSON:
Craig Stevens
Clark County School District
(702) 875-5808
[email protected]