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Indiana Republican wants high school students to take the same civics test as immigrants

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By Teresa Mull

last updated 8 January 2015

"Who was the first president?"

"When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?"

Think you could easily answer those questions on the test administered to immigrants before they can become naturalized citizens of the U.S.? If you're a high school student in Indiana, you might have to prove it.

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Indiana Senate Education Committee Chairman Dennis Kruse, a Republican, is planning to introduce a bill next week that would require high school grads to know at least as much about civics as the nation's newest citizens, Fox News reports.

"I believe that if we're asking someone from a foreign country to know this information, that our own citizens ought to know it," Kruse said.

Kruse wants public school students to answer correctly at least 60 of the 100 civics questions that are on the test for new immigrants seeking to become citizens. Immigrants applying for citizenship are asked 10 of the 100 questions at random, and must get at least six right.

Research has found that about 92 percent of immigrants pass the civics test on their first try, but the Lafayette Journal and Courier reports less than 5 percent of high school students in Arizona and Oklahoma passed the test.

Legislation similar to Kruse's is being considered in 15 other states.

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Teresa Mull

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