Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt wants the state to use the federal naturalization test as middle school curriculum.
Derek Schmidt is pushing for an incentive-based system that encourages schools to implement a test that is usually given to immigrants seeking citizenship.
The federal naturalization test includes questions about American history, the Constitution, and the structure of the U.S. government.
Schmidt says if immigrants are required to take the test, those born here should also be able to pass it.
He says there’s a national movement to reintroduce civic education in public schools, led by the Joe Foss Institute of Scottsdale, Arizona. The organization says only 23 percent of 8th graders in the U.S. scored proficient in the civics portion of national assessments.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt has approached the state board of education about the issue, and they’ve agreed to look into his plan.
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