SB426: SB426 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

Right now, Georgia does not require students to pass a citizenship test to earn a high school diploma. This bill would add a new requirement to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 20-1-13) making a passing score on the United States Citizenship Civics Test, the exam produced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a condition for graduation. Starting July 1, 2027, local boards of education and other public school governing bodies would have to require students in grades nine through 12 to score at least 70 percent on the test before receiving a diploma. The same rule would apply to adults seeking a state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma. Students and other test takers could retake the test as many times as needed to pass. Schools and HSE programs would have to set up a process to certify and track who has met the requirement.

• Creates a new requirement that public high school students pass the United States Citizenship Civics Test with a score of 70 percent or higher to earn a diploma.
• Extends the same 70 percent passing 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 needed to reach the required score.
• Requires local boards of education, other public school governing bodies, and HSE programs to set up a certification process confirming a student met the score requirement.
• Sets the requirement to begin on July 1, 2027, giving schools time to prepare before it takes effect.

Public high school students in grades nine through 12, adults pursuing a high school equivalency diploma, local boards of education and other public school governing bodies, and organizations that run state approved HSE testing programs.

Beginning in 2027, a student's ability to graduate high school, or an adult's ability to earn an HSE diploma, would depend in part on passing a civics exam about U.S. citizenship, adding a new academic hurdle and new tracking and certification duties for schools and HSE programs statewide.

• Section 1 states legislative findings referencing the nation's Semiquincentennial anniversary and quotes President Ronald Reagan on preserving freedom across generations.
• Section 2 adds new Code section 20-1-13 defining '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 other public school governing bodies to make a 70 percent score on the test a condition of earning a diploma, effective July 1, 2027.
• Subsection (c) applies the same 70 percent scoring requirement to individuals seeking a state approved HSE diploma, effective July 1, 2027.
• Subsection (d) allows students and other individuals to retake the test as many times as necessary to reach the required score.
• Subsection (e) requires local boards, public school governing bodies, and HSE programs to establish a certification process to verify compliance.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

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
• high school equivalency diploma
• public schools
• citizenship test