Tennessee § 49-6-408 - Administration of United States civics test.

§ 49-6-408. Administration of United States civics test.

Beginning January 1, 2017, except as provided in subsection (c), a student, during the student's high school career, shall be given a United States civics test composed of questions from the one hundred (100) questions that are set forth within the civics test administered by the United States citizenship and immigration services to persons seeking to become naturalized citizens. An LEA shall prepare a test for its students composed of at least fifty (50) questions from those questions described in subsection (a). The test must be composed of at least twenty-nine (29) questions on American government, at least sixteen (16) questions on American history, and at least seven (7) questions on integrated civics. The LEA may prepare multiple versions of the test for use in different schools and at different times. A public high school may provide each student with the opportunity to take the test as many times as necessary for the student to pass the test. A student must correctly answer at least seventy percent (70%) of the questions to receive a passing score on the test. The department shall recognize a school on the department's website as a United States civics all-star school for any school year in which all of the school's seniors receiving a regular diploma make a passing grade of eighty-five percent (85%) or more on the United States civics test required under subsection (a). Notwithstanding § 49-6-6001(a), a student must take and pass the civics test required by this section in order to meet the social studies course credit requirements to earn a full diploma upon graduation from high school. A passing score on the civics test must be noted on a student's transcript. Notwithstanding subsection (f), for the 2019-2020 school year, a student is not required to take and pass the civics test required in this section to meet the social studies course credit requirements to earn a full diploma upon graduation from high school. Acts 2015, ch. 499, § 1; 2019, ch. 442, §§ 1-5; 2020, ch. 652, § 7. Code Commission Notes. Former § 49-6-408 , concerning a two-year pilot program to provide certified athletic trainers in public high schools, was deleted as obsolete by authority of the code commission in 2013. Compiler's Notes. For the Preamble to the act concerning severe weather, tornadoes and the COVID-19 threat, see Acts 2020, ch. 652. Acts 2020, ch. 652, § 13 provided that: “(a) The department of education shall promptly seek a waiver from the United States Department of Education, or seek to amend Tennessee's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan, as necessary and appropriate to implement chapter 652 of the Public Acts of 2020. “(b) The state board of education shall promptly revise the high school graduation requirements for the 2019-2020 school year to ensure that high school seniors who were affected by school closures during the spring of the 2019-2020 school year do not fail to receive a high school diploma for which the student was on-track and otherwise eligible to receive on or before April 2, 2020. “(c) The state board of education shall consult with the department of education, Tennessee higher education commission, and public institutions of higher education to develop guidance, resources, and opportunities for high school students who were enrolled in dual credit or dual enrollment courses during the spring of the 2019-2020 school year, and who were adversely affected by school closures due to COVID-19. “(d) Notwithstanding Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-5-208(a): “(1) The state board of education may promulgate emergency rules as necessary to address any issues created by school closures due to the outbreak of COVID-19 during the 2019-2020 school year. The rules must be promulgated according to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5; and “(2) The Tennessee student assistance corporation and public institutions of higher education may promulgate emergency rules to protect the financial aid and credit opportunities for high school students who were enrolled in dual credit or dual enrollment courses during the spring of the 2019-2020 school year, and who were adversely affected by school closures due to COVID-19.” Amendments. The 2020 amendment added (g). Effective Dates. Acts 2020, ch. 652, § 14. April 2, 2020.