Dec.

1, 2014
For Immediate Release
Contact: Dale Wetzel, Department of Public Instruction
Phone: 701-328-2247
Email: dewetzel@nd.gov

Bill Promotes Civics Knowledge for North Dakota Students

BISMARCK, N.D. A bipartisan group of North Dakota lawmakers is sponsoring a bill to
ensure North Dakotas high school graduates know basic information about the foundation
of their nation, state and government.
It would require North Dakota high school students to pass the same exam that is given to
new Americans. The exam has 100 questions. To qualify for citizenship, new Americans
must correctly answer six of 10 questions that are chosen at random from the exam.
The legislation says North Dakota students must take the entire exam and answer at least
60 percent of its questions correctly. Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, every North
Dakota student must get a passing grade on the civics exam to graduate from high school.
Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, the chairman of the North Dakota Houses Education
Committee, is the bills primary sponsor. Other sponsors are Sen. Tim Flakoll, R-Fargo,
chairman of the Senate Education Committee; Sen. Joan Heckaman, D-New Rockford; and
Rep. Bob Hunskor, D-Newburg.
This bill is part of a national effort to promote civics education. North Dakota is among the
first states where it is being introduced. Others are Arizona, Louisiana, Missouri, New
Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah.
Each state where this bill is being introduced has an advisory board of public officials who
support its goals. The North Dakota advisory board is co-chaired by First Lady Betsy
Dalrymple and Kirsten Baesler, the state superintendent of public instruction. Its other
members are Sens. Flakoll and Heckaman, Reps. Nathe and Hunskor, and Maj. Gen. David
Sprynczynatyk, the commander of the North Dakota National Guard.
The people who favor this bill have widely differing political beliefs, First Lady Betsy
Dalrymple said. But they share the belief that it is important for all Americans to know
about the first principles of our constitutional government.
North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler said the bill gives school
districts maximum flexibility in achieving the bills goals, and said it does not impose extra
costs on schools. She said the exam itself and its answers are readily available on the
Department of Homeland Securitys website.
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The new generations of North Dakotans who are coming up need to know about the
foundations of our republic, Baesler said. We need to make sure these traditions last
forever. Our veterans have fought and died for hundreds of years to preserve these
traditions. It is our sacred duty to teach these traditions to our children.
Recent surveys have shown that high school students, and Americans in general, struggle to
answer basic questions about the foundations of our government.
In August 2012, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni surveyed 300 college
graduates about the extent of their historical knowledge. Here are some of the findings:
--20 percent of them knew the Father of the Constitution. (James Madison)
--42 percent could put the Battle of the Bulge in the correct war. (World War II)
--38 percent could give the correct length of the terms of U.S. House members and senators.
(Two years and six years)
--96 percent could identify Lady Gaga. (A singer)
The Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania did a similar survey
in September 2011. Here are some of the surveys findings:
--13 percent of the people surveyed knew the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787.
--15 percent of the respondents could name the chief justice of the United States. (John
Roberts). Almost twice as many of the people surveyed knew that Randy Jackson is a judge
on American Idol.
Resources to consult about the legislation:
100-question citizenship exam:
http://1.usa.gov/1gsizTM
Civics Education abbreviated test (40 questions):
http://civicseducationinitiative.com/take-the-test/
Civics Education Initiative:
http://civicseducationinitiative.com/
Survey by Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania:
http://prn.to/1yhA5oM
Survey by American Council of Trustees and Alumni:
http://bit.ly/1tjDoqo