Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt held a signing ceremony on August 5th for House Bill 2030, formally signed into law in April, which requires all high school students pass the U.S. Civics Test before graduation.
This test is the same one required by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for anyone desiring to become a U.S. citizen.
The Oklahoma legislature tried for four years to pass this bill. Oklahoma Convention of States got involved through the Voter Voice campaign and responded in force. After that, the bill passed easily.
"We must have an informed and engaged citizenry if we hope to continue to have a free and prosperous country," said House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O'Donnell (R-Catoosa). "To ensure this, it only makes sense that we require students graduating from our public schools to know certain facts about how their government functions and about our nation's founding."
He went on to assert that people don't have an accurate understanding of what is in the U.S. Constitution or a grasp of the nation's founding.
HB 2030 requires subject matter standards for history, social studies, and U.S. Government courses in Oklahoma public schools to include the study of important historical documents, including the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, Federalist Papers and other documents of historical national significance.
Under the legislation, the graduation requirement will apply to students entering ninth grade beginning this school year. They will have until the 2022-23 school year to pass the test, which will be offered to students at least once per school year.
Any student may retake the exam upon request, and as often as desired, until earning a passing score of 60 out of 100 questions. Students with disabilities that have an individualized education plan (IEP) will be exempted.
Ceremonial bill signings are held to allow lawmakers and those influential in helping to draft the legislation or those most affected by it to attend.
In attendance for HB 2030 were (left to right) House Speaker Charles McCall; Sen. Nathan Dahm; Sen. Adam Pugh; Marsheila Prior with City Elders; House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O’Donnell; Gov. Kevin Stitt; Susie McCleskey, Oklahoma State Content Writer, Convention of States; TJ McCormack, a constituent and requestor of the bill; John Guinn, Oklahoma Director, Convention of States; and House Sr. Staff Attorney Erin Kennedy.
