Senate Bill 2067

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE DEMONSTRATION OF PROFICIENCY IN CIVICS AS A CONDITION OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION BY REQUIRING STUDENTS TO TAKE THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP TEST AS A PART OF THE UNITED STATES HISTORY CURRICULUM; TO REQUIRE THE UNITED STATES HISTORY CURRICULUM AND TEST TO INCLUDE HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE BEGINNING WITH THE SETTLEMENT OF JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA, IN 1607; TO AMEND SECTION 37-16-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. High school graduation requirement; civics test. (1) For purposes of this section, "civics test" means the one hundred (100) questions that, as of January 1, 2015, officers of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) use as the basis for selecting the questions posed to applicants for naturalization, in order that the applicants can demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of United States History and the principles and form of United States government, as required by 8 USC 1423.

(2) Before a student may be awarded a high school diploma, the student must correctly answer at least eighty percent (80%) of the questions on the civics test.

(a) This requirement applies to each student:

(i) Enrolled in a public school district; or

(ii) Pursuing a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).

(b) This requirement does not apply to a student who is exempted in accordance with the student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

(3) The State Board of Education shall provide that the requirements of this section shall be incorporated into the United States History curriculum required for high school students, as measured by the Mississippi Subject Area Test on United States History. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the United States History curriculum and test shall include historical knowledge regarding the United States of America from the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607 to the present.

(4) The State Department of Education shall, upon request, provide to the person administering the civics test the correct answer or acceptable answers to each question as used in determining citizenship.

(5) A student may take the test at any time after enrolling in Grade 11 and may repeat the test three (3) times to demonstrate eighty percent (80%) proficiency.

(6) Neither the State Department of Education nor a school district may impose or collect any fees or charges in connection with this section.

(7) This section is applicable to any student who graduates from high school during or after the 2024-2025 school year.

SECTION 2. Section 37-16-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-16-7. (1) Each district school board shall establish standards for graduation from its schools which shall include as a minimum:

(a) Mastery of minimum academic skills as measured by assessments developed and administered by the State Board of Education.

(b) Completion of a minimum number of academic credits, and all other applicable requirements prescribed by the district school board.

( * * *cd) By school, information on high school graduation rates. High schools with graduation rates lower than eighty percent (80%) must submit a detailed plan to the Mississippi Department of Education to restructure the high school experience to improve graduation rates.

(2) A student who meets all requirements prescribed in subsection (1) of this section shall be awarded a standard diploma in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education.

(3) The State Board of Education may establish student proficiency standards for promotion to grade levels leading to graduation.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.