2024 House Bill 535: AN ACT relating to civic education

This bill's goal is that starting with the freshman class of the 2025-2026 school year, it will become a graduation requirement for students to have completed either a ½ course credit course in civic literacy or a civics test composed of questions from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test. Local school boards can decide on which option to implement. The bill also increases the score required to pass the civics test from 60% to 70%, and students can take it as many times as needed. It also defines which areas will be taught in the civics course, including the Constitution, the roles of state and local governments, America’s founding history, and more.

KSVT is in support of this bill as an adequate education in civics is integral to producing students who are prepared to engage in state politics and become involved citizens after high school. While this bill is a good first step, it does not go far enough as schools can still opt for the civics test requirement.