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HB 5516

AN ACT CONCERNING THE INCLUSION OF THE NATURALIZATION TEST AS PART OF THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tina Courpas and 2 co-sponsors

Connecticut would require high school students to pass the U.S. naturalization civics test to graduate, creating potential impacts on graduation rates and curriculum priorities.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Education
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Bill Summary · HB 5516

Legislative bill overview

HB 5516 would require Connecticut high school students to pass the U.S. naturalization civics test as a condition of graduation. This federally administered test, which assesses knowledge of American government, history, and civic principles, would become a mandatory graduation benchmark alongside traditional academic requirements.

Why is this important

Civic literacy has become a policy priority across states, with proponents arguing that standardized civics knowledge ensures all graduates understand foundational American principles regardless of background. However, this requirement would directly impact graduation rates and could disproportionately affect certain student populations, making it a significant education policy decision with equity implications.

Potential points of contention

  • Test accessibility and fairness: The naturalization test was designed for adult immigrants with varying English proficiency; applying it to 17-18-year-old native English speakers raises questions about appropriateness, translation needs, and whether it measures civics knowledge or test-taking ability in a second language context.
  • Graduation rate impacts: Making any high-stakes test mandatory for graduation can increase dropout rates or require schools to dramatically alter curriculum; Connecticut would need to assess whether this creates barriers for students with learning disabilities or English language learners.
  • Curriculum burden: Schools would need to allocate significant instructional time to naturalization test preparation, potentially reducing time for other civics coursework or subjects, raising questions about whether this substitutes for or supplements comprehensive civics education.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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