Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — Iowa high school students soon will have to answer at least 60 of the 100 questions on the US Citizenship Test correctly in order to graduate.
The requirement, which will start for the Class of 2027, is in a bill that won final legislative approval Thursday. It’s one of the governor’s top priorities. Republican Representative Bob Henderson of Sioux City led House debate.
The test will be multiple choice, students will be given the questions in advance, and they can take it multiple times until they pass. Critics say students will be memorizing the answers rather than learning about how government works. Representative Elinor Levin, a Democrat from Iowa City, says the bill does not get to the actual goal of improving civics education and getting students engaged in their community.
Representative Chad Ingels, a Republican from Randalia who voted against the bill, says high school students could dig deeper if they were required to pass not just one semester, but two semesters of US government classes.
Henderson says passing the test will be a valued achievement.
Henderson is a retired math teacher. And seven times eight equals 56.
KIWA Staff Photo
