Civics Test Bill Cleared by Idaho Committee

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Name one of the two U.S. Senators from the state of Idaho. This is just one question from a test that Idaho students may soon need to pass to graduate from high school.

The House Education Committee unanimously voted Monday to require students to pass a test with basic questions on U.S. government in order to get their diplomas. Republican Sen. Jim Patrick from Twin Falls says students must correctly answer 60 of the 100 questions, which come from the federal government's citizenship tests for immigrants.

But Idaho Education Association President Penni Cyr says testing like this stifles creativity and takes away time from other subjects. Other questions include naming the governor of Idaho and knowing when the Constitution was written. The bill has already passed the Senate 29-6.