Tennessee seniors could face civics test to graduate

Tennessee students wanting to graduate high school could soon be required to pass the same civics test administered to immigrants looking to become U.S. citizens.

Or at least that's the purpose behind House Bill 10, introduced Monday by State House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, which will be considered when the Tennessee General Assembly convenes on Jan. 13.

The bill mirrors others introduced recently throughout the country, including Indiana and New Jersey, that say districts must require students to pass a citizenship test or fail to earn their high school diploma.

McCormick's bill says a 60 percent or higher is required to pass the test, and high schoolers will be given as many opportunities as necessary to pass the 100-question test.



Those looking to become citizens have two tries per application to pass the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services test. It features questions such as, "What is the supreme law of the land?" and "In what month do we vote for President?"