Kansas hearing debates requirement for K–12 instruction on communism and a 100‑question civics exam for graduation

Tamara Lawrence, the committee reviser, opened the hearing on Senate Bill 381 by summarizing the bill’s two central provisions: direct the State Board of Education to develop age‑ and developmentally‑appropriate K–12 curriculum and materials about communist and socialist regimes and ideologies, and require students who enroll in ninth grade on or after July 1, 2026, to pass a 100‑question American civics examination (substantially similar to U.S. naturalization questions) to be certified as having completed the course requirements necessary for high‑school graduation.

Proponents told the committee the measure addresses gaps in civic knowledge. Senator Brad Starnes said national data show low civic literacy and argued the bill introduces accountability: “We have…only 19 percent of Americans 45 could pass the American civic literacy test,” he said, and described funding for curriculum as available within existing K–12 budgets. Joshua Reynolds, an education policy analyst for Cicero Action, said national surveys show many younger Americans lack awareness of historical events tied to communist regimes and urged the State Board to ensure students can answer basic civics questions used in naturalization testing.

Supporters emphasized local control over instruction while asking for a statewide standard of competency. Proponents noted the bill permits multiple testing attempts starting in seventh grade, and they said the measure includes IEP accommodations for students with disabilities.

Opponents, including Mary Sinclair of the Kansas PTA, Leah Fleider of the Kansas Association of School Boards and Tim Graham of the Kansas National Education Association, urged caution. They argued the subjects in SB 381 largely overlap with existing Kansas standards (world history, U.S. history and American government) and said setting a state‑administered civics exam as a condition of graduation would impose a new high‑stakes barrier disconnected from classroom instruction and local educator judgment. “This goes way too far,” Tim Graham said, adding that curriculum and graduation policy “traditionally belong at the local level.”

Committee members pressed both sides on practical effects. Senators asked whether existing courses already cover the topics targeted by the bill, whether civic engagement projects would satisfy the competency requirement, and how the exam would align with current Kansas standards. Proponents said local districts retain discretion in how the State Board’s curriculum is taught and that students would have repeated opportunities to pass the exam. Opponents asked for clarity on concordance between state standards and the proposed civics exam and on whether the requirement would effectively prevent students who otherwise meet credit requirements from graduating.

The committee closed the hearing on SB 381 after noting several written‑only opponent statements were on file. No committee vote was taken during this session; the hearing record will be available to committee members for future action.