KRS § 158.141 — KY Code / Title XIII / Chapter 158 / Section 158.141
158.141 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
Status: in_force

158.141 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 include 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 that

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.