Civics proficiency examination.

2015
STATE OF WYOMING
15LSO-0384
Numbered
2.1

HOUSE BILL

NO.
HB0196

Civics proficiency examination.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Clem, Halverson, Jaggi and Miller and Senator(s) Meier

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to high school graduation; requiring passage of an examination as specified; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 21
‑
2
‑
304(
a)(iv)
(intro)
and 21
‑
9
‑
102 are amended to read:

21
‑
2
‑
304
.

Duties of the state board of education.

(a)

The state board of education shall:

(iv)

Effective school year 2013
‑
2014, and each school year thereafter, require district administration of
common benchmark adaptive assessments statewide in reading and mathematics for grades one (1) through eight (8) in accordance with W.S. 21
‑
3
‑
110(
a)(xxiv). The board shall also establish, in consultation with local school districts, requirements for students to earn a high school diploma as measured by each district's assessment system prescribed by rule and regulation of the state board and required under W.S. 21
‑
3
‑
110(
a)(xxiv).
Beginning school year 201
6
‑
201
7
, and each school year thereafter, the requirements to earn a high school diploma shall include completion of the
examination
required under W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
102
.

Beginning school year 2014
‑
2015, and each school year thereafter, each district's assessment system shall include a measure or multiple measures for purposes of determining completion of high school graduation requirements. The state board shall by rule and regulation establish guidelines for district development of this measure or measures, and shall through the department of education, provide support to districts in developing each district's measure or measures. The state board shall through the department, annually review and approve each district's assessment system designed to determine the various levels of student performance and the attainment of high school
graduation requirements. A high school diploma shall provide for one (1) of the following endorsements which shall be stated on the transcript of each student:

21
‑
9
‑
102
.

Instruction in state and federal constitutions required; satisfactory examination a prerequisite to graduation.

(a)

All schools and colleges in this state that are supported in any manner by public funds shall give instruction in the essentials of the United States constitution and the constitution of the state of Wyoming, including the study of and devotion to American institution and ideals, and no student shall receive a high school diploma, associate degree or baccalaureate degree without satisfactorily passing an examination on the principles of the constitution of the United States and the state of Wyoming. The instruction shall be given for at least three (3) years in kindergarten through grade eight (8) and for one (1) year each in the secondary and college grades.

(b)

Beginning school year 201
6
‑
201
7
and each
school
year thereafter, the examination required
to receive a high
school diploma
under subsection (a) of this section on the essentials of the United States constitution
, hereby known as "civics test"
,

shall consist of the one hundred (100) questions that, as of January 1, 2015, officers of the United States citizenship and immigration services use to demonstrate applicants possess
a knowledge and understanding of t
he fundamentals of the history,
principles and form of government

of the United States
under
8 U.S.C. Section 1423. Every student shall
answer at least sixty percent (60%) of the questions correctly to receive a Wyoming high school diploma.
This requirement applies to each student enrolled in a public school district or pursuing a general equivalency diploma. Each student
in grades nine (9) through twelve (12)
must be provided with an opportunity to take the civics test at least one (1) time per school calendar. A student may take the test at any time after enrolling in the grade
nine
(
9
) and may repeat the test as often as necessary to demonstrate proficiency.
This requirement shall not apply to students exempted pursuant to an individualized education plan under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Act.

Section
2
.

This
act is effective July 1,
2015
.

(END)

1
HB0196