May 1, 2021

Citizenship Test Will Soon Be Required for High School Diploma

It has been a very newsy week for #oklaed in the state Legislature. One big change for students coming soon: high school students will have to pass a citizenship test in order to graduate. Legislation adopting this requirement was signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday, and the new law goes into effect in the 2022-23 school year.

Its proponents say the intent is to help students become informed and engaged citizens. (Want to take it yourself? Here’s a practice test. I scored a 90%.) Students who score less than 60% won’t receive a diploma. It’s the first time in several years Oklahoma has required a passing grade on a test to graduate, after moving away from end-of-instruction exams in 2016.

Another bill working its way through the legislature is Senate Bill 2, which would prohibit transgender student athletes from playing on girls’ sports teams.

Can you help? I’m looking to talk to transgender students and athletes to improve my understanding of this issue. If you know someone willing to be interviewed, even if they have graduated or are no longer in school, please email me at jpalmer@oklahomawatch.org.

Have a great weekend.

—Jennifer Palmer

Around the web

• Epic Charter Schools Agrees To Major Reforms [KGOU]
• Broadband, education funding at the top of Oklahoma House’s to-do list [Tulsa World]
• Opinion: Oklahoma’s HB 1775 Is Built Around a False Premise [Dr. Robin Fuxa]
• A Lively Supreme Court Argument Over a Cheerleader’s Vulgar Rant [The New York Times]
• Biden’s plans to expand free education may be new for America. But in other countries, they’re the norm. [Washington Post]

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