Civics Graduation Requirement
Wisconsin statute requires that any students graduating from a Wisconsin high school (starting with the class of 2017) "takes a civics test comprised of 100 questions that are identical to the 100 questions that may be asked of an individual during the process of applying for U.S. citizenship by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the pupil correctly answers at least 65 of those questions" (Wis. Stat. sec. 118.33(1m)(a)1, Section 3266R).
Please note that changes to the USCIS naturalization test that were made by the Trump Administration were overturned by the Biden Administration in January 2021. This means our state requirement stays as written, 100 questions identical to the USCIS test, with students needing to pass with 65% or higher.
To support students in passing the civics graduation requirement, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has created these resources:
- The Civics Graduation Requirement Multiple Choice Exam, which can be copied for your district’s use (this link will require you to make a copy).
- Civics Graduation Exam Answer Key
- You can also access the Civics Graduation Requirement Multiple Choice Exam in Spanish. Upon clicking the link, you will be required to "make a copy" in Google for your district's use.
- Civics Graduation Requirement Answer Key in Spanish
- A joint project between Madison Metropolitan School District and the Wisconsin Educational Service Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, The Wisconsin School for the Deaf, and Outreach to support Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in Wisconsin provides the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration test in American Sign Language. For more information, contact Connie Gartner at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf.
Civics Graduation Exam Study Resources
- Naturalization Test and Study Resources from US Citizenship and Immigration Services, US Department of Homeland Security
- Preparing for the Oath (Interactive practice test) from the Smithsonian, the National Museum of American History, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services, US Department of Homeland Security
- Civics flash cards from US Citizenship and Immigration Services, US Department of Homeland Securty
For questions about the civics graduation exam or study materials, contact Kris McDaniel, Social Studies Education Consultant.
Information on Taking/Passing the Civics Graduation Requirement
The taking and/or passing of the state Civics Graduation Requirement is not included in DPI data collection, as it is not a state assessment. It is the district's responsibility to track student's progress towards a graduation requirement. If you have questions about a specific student, please contact your local district.
Civics Graduation Requirement
Any students graduating from a Wisconsin high school (starting with the class of 2017) "takes a civics test comprised of 100 questions that are identical to the 100 questions that may be asked of an individual during the process of applying for U.S. citizenship by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the pupil correctly answers at least 65 of those questions" (Wis. Stat. sec. 118.33(1m)(a)1, Section 3266R).
Main Points of the Statute
There are no state funds to administer this test. DPI is not involved in the procurement, grading, or gathering of test scores for this test. Districts are responsible to give the test, score it, and keep records of student scores/passing.
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It is up to the school/district what format to use, and when in the school year to administer the test.
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Students, starting with the class of 2017, must correctly answer at least 60* of 100 questions identical to the INS citizenship test in order to graduate from a WI public, charter, or private school participating in a parental choice program. (*Note that WI 2017 Act 59 (WI State Budget 2017-19) changed this requirement to 65 out of 100 questions to pass (Wis. Stat. sec. 118.33(1m)(a)1, Section 3266R).)
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IEP teams will determine if the test is appropriate for each individual student with an IEP. For more information, please go to the FAQ page.
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Students identified as LEP may take the test in their language of choice.
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Transcripts and/or pupil records should indicate students "passed" the civics test requirement.
