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Bill

SB 426

Education; high school students seeking a high school diploma to achieve a minimum score of 70 percent on the United States Citizenship Civics Test; require

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by John Albers and 6 co-sponsors

Georgia would require high school students to score 70% on the U.S. Citizenship Civics Test to graduate, standardizing civics knowledge but potentially increasing testing burden and equity concerns.

Senate Read and Referred
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Bill Summary · SB 426

Legislative bill overview

SB 426 would require Georgia high school students to achieve a minimum score of 70 percent on the United States Citizenship Civics Test as a condition for earning a high school diploma. This test is the same civics assessment administered to applicants seeking U.S. citizenship through naturalization. The bill essentially makes passing this standardized civics exam a graduation requirement.

Why is this important

Civics education and understanding of American government structures directly affect civic participation and informed voting. This requirement would standardize civics knowledge across all Georgia graduates and potentially influence how schools teach government and history curriculum. It also raises questions about academic standards, testing burden, and equitable access to civics instruction across different school districts.

Potential points of contention

  • Testing burden: Adding a high-stakes standardized test for graduation could increase pressure on students and schools already managing multiple required assessments
  • Curriculum alignment: Schools would need to ensure their civics curriculum comprehensively covers all citizenship test material, potentially narrowing focus to test preparation
  • Equity concerns: Students in under-resourced districts may have less access to quality civics instruction and test preparation, creating disparate pass rates
  • Content scope: The citizenship test covers specific U.S. civics topics; critics may argue this doesn't reflect comprehensive civic knowledge or critical thinking about governance

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

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