Kansas House Approves Citizenship Tests in Schools

A bill that would require high school students to pass a civics test to graduate has won initial approval in the Kansas House.

Lawmakers voted to advance the bill despite opposition from the Kansas State Board of Education, which said the bill infringes on its constitutional authority to set graduation requirements.

The legislation would require students to pass one or more tests consisting of 60 questions from the 128-question U.S. citizenship test.

The bill does not set a passing grade, and students would be able to take the test multiple times.

The test would also require high schools to submit an annual report to the state board showing how students are doing on the tests.

Supporters say the test would give students basic knowledge to become engaged citizens.

The bill faces pushback from education groups, including the Kansas National Education Association, which says that students are already getting an education in civics in government and history classes.