SB 426: Education; high school students seeking a high school diploma to achieve a minimum score of 70 percent on the United States Citizenship Civics Test; require

Currently, Georgia does not require students to pass the U.S. Citizenship Civics Test to earn a high school diploma. This bill would change that by adding a new section to Georgia's education code requiring, starting July 1, 2027, that students in grades nine through 12 achieve a minimum score of 70 percent on the test as a condition of earning a high school diploma. The same requirement would apply to adults seeking a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, often known by the brand name GED. Students and HSE candidates could retake the test as many times as needed to reach the passing score. Local school boards, other public school governing bodies, and HSE programs would have to set up a process to certify that each student or individual actually met the score requirement.

• Requires students in grades nine through 12 to score at least 70 percent on the U.S. Citizenship Civics Test to earn a high school diploma, starting July 1, 2027.
• Applies the same 70 percent minimum score requirement to adults seeking a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma.
• Allows students and HSE candidates to retake the citizenship test as many times as necessary to reach the passing score.
• Requires local boards of education, other public school governing bodies, and HSE programs to create a certification process confirming each person met the score requirement.
• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 20-1-13) to Georgia's education law defining the test as the one produced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

High school students statewide, adults pursuing a high school equivalency diploma, local boards of education and other public school governing bodies, and organizations that run HSE testing programs, all of whom would need to administer, track, or pass the new civics test requirement.

Starting in 2027, passing the civics test would become a graduation requirement alongside existing coursework, meaning students who cannot reach 70 percent, even after multiple attempts, could be blocked from receiving a diploma unless they eventually pass. Schools and HSE programs would need new tracking and certification systems.

• Section 1 states legislative findings tied to the nation's 250th anniversary and quotes President Reagan on the need to actively preserve freedom.
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 20-1-13, defining the 'citizenship test' as the United States Citizenship Civics Test produced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• Subsection (b) requires local boards of education and public school governing bodies to require a 70 percent minimum score on the test for students in grades nine through 12 as a condition of receiving a diploma, effective July 1, 2027.
• Subsection (c) applies the same 70 percent minimum score requirement to individuals seeking a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma, effective July 1, 2027.
• Subsection (d) allows unlimited retakes of the test until the minimum score is achieved.
• Subsection (e) requires local boards, other governing bodies, and HSE programs to establish a certification process to confirm compliance.

1. 2026-01-28Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-01-27Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)Primary sponsor
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Max Burns (R, SD-023)
• Jason T. Dickerson (R, SD-021)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Ed Setzler (R, SD-037)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)

• high school graduation requirements
• civics education
• GED and HSE diplomas
• Georgia education law