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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to inclusion of a civics test in the graduation |
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requirements for public high school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.025(c), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) A person may receive a diploma if the person is eligible |
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for a diploma under Section 28.0251. In other cases, a student may |
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graduate and receive a diploma only if: |
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(1) the student successfully completes the curriculum |
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requirements identified by the State Board of Education under |
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Subsection (a) and complies with Sections 28.028 and [Section] |
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39.025; or |
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(2) the student successfully completes an |
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individualized education program developed under Section 29.005. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.028 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.028. CIVICS TEST. (a) Each school district shall |
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administer a civics test to a student in the foundation high school |
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program under Section 28.025. A student may not receive a high |
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school diploma until the student has performed satisfactorily on |
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the civics test. |
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(b) The civics test must consist of all of the questions on |
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the civics test administered by the United States Citizenship and |
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Immigration Services as part of the naturalization process under |
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the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 |
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et seq.). The questions must be presented in a multiple choice |
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format. |
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(c) To perform satisfactorily on the civics test, a student |
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must answer at least 70 percent of the questions correctly. |
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(d) Each school district shall: |
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(1) establish a time or times during the school year at |
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which the civics test will be administered; and |
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(2) provide an option to take the test online at any |
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time and from any location. |
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(e) A school district may not: |
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(1) restrict the high school grade level at which a |
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student may take the civics test; |
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(2) limit the number of attempts a student may make to |
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perform satisfactorily on the test; or |
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(3) charge a student a fee to take the test. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with students who |
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enter the ninth grade during the 2017-2018 school year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |