Passing grade on civics test or course in civic literacy required for high school graduation -- Testing procedures -- Department to submit testing data to the Legislative Research Commission -- Instruction areas for civic literacy course -- Administrative regulations
KRS 158.141
in effect158.141. Passing grade on civics test or course in civic literacy required for high school graduation -- Testing procedures -- Department to submit testing data to the Legislative Research Commission -- Instruction areas for civic literacy course -- Administrative regulations
(1) Beginning with the entering ninth grade class of the 2025 -2026 school year, and each year thereafter, graduation requirements for each student in every public high school in Kentucky graduating with a regular diploma shall in clude successful completion of either:
(a) A one-half (1/2) credit course in civic literacy that includes instruction in the areas required in subsection (5) of this section; or
(b) A civics test composed of one hundred (100) questions drawn from those tha t are set forth within the civics test administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to persons seeking to become naturalized citizens.
(2) A local board of education shall determine which option under subsection (1) of this section shall be required for graduates of the school district.
(3) If the board requires the completion of subsection (1)(b) of this section:
(a) The board shall prepare or approve a test composed of the questions described in subsection (1)(b) of this section and shall disseminate the test to all public high schools of the district. The test shall be administered by each public high school in the district;
(b) A public high school shall provide each student with the opportunity to take the test as many times as necessary for the student to pass the test without the use of instructional aids during testing, including but not limited to textbooks and internet browser searching. A student shall not receive a regular high school diploma until the student successfully completes the test as specified in paragraph (c) of this subsection;
(c) A student shall be considered to have successfully completed the test if at least seventy percent (70%) of the questions are answered correctly. A student who has passed a similar test within the previous five (5) years may provide the board with evidence of successful completion and shall not be required to take the test under this section;
(d) By September 1, 2026, and each year thereafter, each school district requiring a civics test for graduation shall submit annual testing data to the Kentucky Department of Education. The department shall compile the data and by November 1 of each year submit an annual report to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the Interim Joint Committee on Education. The report shall include: 1. The first-time successful completion rate of the civics test; and 2. The average number of times a student takes the civics test for successful completion; and
(e) Provisions of this section shall be subject to the requirements and accommodations of a student's individualized education program as defined in KRS 158.281 or a Section 504 Plan as defined in KRS 156.027.
(4) Students pursuing an early graduation program as established in KRS 158.142 shall complete the requirement prior to the student's graduation.
(5) A civic literacy course shall include but not be limited to instruction in the following areas:
(a) An overview of America's founding history, including but not limited to key texts; the role and operations of local, state, and national governments; the rights and responsibilities of citizenship; federalism; civil liberties; and civil rights;
(b) Principles of the United States government;
(c) The Constitution of Kentucky and the Constitution of the United States;
(d) Institutions of the United States government and the responsibilities of the executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch;
(e) State government and local governments and the role of each;
(f) Political parties and interest groups;
(g) Campaigns and elections;
(h) United States Congress;
(i) Domestic policy;
(j) Foreign policy;
(k) Comparative systems;
(l) International relations; and
(m) Major issues facing government.
(6) The Kentucky Board of Education shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS 156.160 to establish academic standards for civic literacy.
Effective: July 15, 2024
History: Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 122, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2024. -- Created 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 109, sec. 1, effective June 29, 2017.
Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (legislature.ky.gov)URL: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=55025Fetched: 10/20/2026