Area lawmaker pushes civics test for high school students

A local state representative is sponsoring legislation that would require high-school students to pass a civics test similar to the civics portion of the U.S. naturalization test.

Produced by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the test features questions about some of the finer details of the U.S. Constitution, the country's economic system and naming state and national government leaders.

Rep. Kathy Swan, R-Cape Girardeau, sponsor of the "Missouri Civics Education Initiative" bill, said "active, engaged citizenship starts with civics education." She also said high-school graduates should have the same basic knowledge of the nation's government and history as naturalized citizens.

In a Tuesday news release, Swan cited information from Citizenship and Immigration Services that said 92 percent of immigrants taking the civics test for citizenship pass the exam. Recent studies in Arizona and Oklahoma have shown less than 4 percent of high-school students pass the same test, she said in the news release.

Last week, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill requiring all high-school students to pass a civics test before they can graduate. Whether other states should follow its lead has become a popular topic in state governments nationwide. A coalition called the Civics Education Initiative is advocating similar laws in each state.

Like the Arizona law, the bill sponsored by Swan -- and an identical one sponsored by Rep. Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield -- requires Missouri's high-school students to answer 60 of 100 questions correctly to receive a passing grade. The test may be taken at any time during high school and as many times as necessary to earn a passing score.

If the measure is approved, it would take effect Jan. 1.

Swan's bill is HB 578. Haahr's bill is HB 574.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.