Arizona 2022 2022 Regular Session

Arizona House Bill HB2632 Comm Sub / Analysis

Filed 02/09/2022

                      	HB 2632 
Initials CH/MR 	Page 1 	Caucus & COW 
 
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Fifty-fifth Legislature 
Second Regular Session 
House: ED DPA 10-0-0-0 
 
HB2632: civics test; passing score 
Sponsor: Representative Nguyen, LD 1 
Caucus & COW 
Overview 
Requires a student to correctly answer at least 70, rather than 60, questions on the required civics 
test to graduate from high school. Establishes reporting requirements for schools, the State Board 
of Education (SBE) and the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) regarding the civics test. 
History 
Statute requires the competency requirements prescribed by SBE for social studies to include a 
requirement that, to graduate from high school or obtain a high school equivalency diploma, a 
pupil answer at least 60 questions correctly on a test that is identical to the civics portion of the 
naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.  
School district governing boards and charter school governing bodies determine the 
administration of the required civics test but must document on a pupil's transcript whether the 
student has passed the test. Statute allows a pupil to retake the civics test until they obtain a 
passing score (A.R.S. § 15-701.01). 
Provisions 
1. Increases, from 60 to 70, the number of questions a student must correctly answer on the 
required civics test to graduate from high school or obtain a high school equivalency diploma. 
(Sec. 1) 
2. Mandates a school document on a pupil's transcript that the pupil has passed or failed the 
required civics test. (Sec. 1)  
3. Permits a pupil who is in 7th or 8th grade to take the required civics test. (Sec 1) 
4. Exempts a pupil in the 7th or 8th grade who correctly answers at least 70 questions on the 
required civics test from being required to take the test again in high school. (Sec. 1)  
5. Directs each school district and charter school to report, by grade level and to SBE, the 
following regarding the required civics test: 
a) The median score; 
b) The percentage of pupils who passed by correctly answering at least 70 questions; 
c) The percentage of pupils who failed by correctly answering fewer than 70 questions; and 
d) Any other data required by SBE. (Sec. 1) 
6. Requires SBE to provide the data to ADE and ADE to make the data publicly available on the 
website that includes the school report cards. (Sec. 1) 
7. Prohibits a school district or charter school from including a pupil's personally identifiable 
information in the data reported to SBE. (Sec. 1) 
8. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1) 
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes)     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note    	HB 2632 
Initials CH/MR 	Page 2 	Caucus & COW 
Amendments 
Committee on Education 
1. Requires, through the graduating class of 2025, students to answer at least 60 questions 
correctly on the required civics test to graduate. 
2. Requires, beginning with the graduating class of 2026, students to answer at least 70 
questions correctly on the required civics test to graduate.  
3. Instructs each school district and charter school to report aggregate data regarding the 
required civics test to ADE, rather than SBE.