Civics proficiency examination.

2017
STATE OF WYOMING
17LSO-0161
Introduced
1.3

HOUSE BILL

NO.

HB0133

Civics proficiency examination.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Clem, Brown, Edwards, Halverson, Henderson, Lone and Miller and Senator(s) Coe, Meier and Pappas

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to education; requiring passage of an examination on the principles of the constitution of the United States and the state of Wyoming to receive a high school diploma, associate degree, baccalaureate degree or high school equivalency certificate; specifying examination requirements and composition; providing legislative findings; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
102
is
amended to read:

21
‑
9
‑
102
.

Instruction in state and federal constitutions required; satisfacto
ry examination a
prerequisite
to
graduation
and high school equivalency certificat
ion
; composition of examination
.

(a)

T
he state of Wyoming
finds
that the study of American civics encompasses what it means to be a good citizen, fosters an understanding of how government works and informs citizens
on how they
can participate and influence their government.

(b)

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.

(
c
)

No student shall receive a high school diploma,
associate degree,
baccalaureate degree
or, beginning school year 2018
‑
2019, a high school equivalency certificate
without satisfactorily passing an examination on the principles of the constitution of the United States and the state of Wyoming. S
ubject to W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
101(c), e
very student in grades nine (9) through
twelve (12)

shall be
afforded
at least one (1)
opportunity
per school year
to take the examination
.
A student pursuing a high school equivalency certificate shall be afforded the opportunity to take the examination as part of the Wyoming community college commission's high school equivalency certification program. A student

may take the examination as many times as necessary to pass it.

(
d
)

Beginning
school year 2018
‑
2019
,

t
he examination shall consist of one hundred
(100)
questions

identical
to

the
questions the United States citizenship and immigration services may ask an individual during the application process for United States citizenship in accordance with 8 U.S.C. § 1423
.
To pass the examination, a student shall answer correctly not less than sixty percent (60%) of the examination's questions.

(
e
)

This section is subject to a student's individualized education program under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as amended.

Section 2.
W.S. 21
‑
2
‑
304(
a)(iv), as amended by 2016 Wyoming Session Laws, Ch
apter
113, Section 1, is amended to read:

21
‑
2
‑
304
.

Duties of the state board of education.

(a)

The state board of education shall:

(iv)

In consultation with local school districts, establish requirements for students to earn a high school diploma as evidenced by course completion
and passage of an examination on the principles of the constitution of the United States and the state of Wyoming in accordance with W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
102,
and 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). Once every five (5) years and on a staggered basis, the state board shall through the
department, review and approve each district's assessment system designed to determine the various levels of student performance as aligned with the uniform state standards and the attainment of high school graduation requirements as evidenced by course completion
and passage of an examination on the principles of the constitution of the United States and the state of Wyoming in accordance with W.S. 21
‑
9
‑
102
. In addition and following review, refinement and revision of student content and performance standards adopted under paragraph (a)(iii) of this section and reviewed under subsection (c) of this section, the board shall establish a process to ensure district assessment systems are aligned with the refined and revised standards within three (3) full school years following adoption of revised standards;

Section
3
.

This
act is effective July 1,
201
7
.

(END)

1
HB0133