In North Dakota, students might soon be required to pass the same exam those seeking U.S. Citizenship must pass.

Mike Nowatzki of the Grand Forks Herald reports:

Bill requiring students to pass civics test before graduating on its way to N.D. governor’s desk

BISMARCK – A bill requiring North Dakota high school students to pass the same civics exam used in the U.S. citizenship test before graduating is headed to Gov. Jack Dalrymple for his signature.

The Senate voted 43-4 Tuesday to approve House Bill 1087, which will mandate that students pass the 100-question civics test starting with the class of 2016-17.

First lady Betsy Dalrymple, who co-chaired the effort to put the standard into law, said she was “thrilled” by the bill’s passage.

“I think it’s a really strong statement that North Dakota cares about civics … but with maximum flexibility,” she said, referring to how the bill lets school districts decide how to administer the test and allows students to take it as many times as needed until they pass.

The governor is expected to sign the bill this week, spokesman Jeff Zent said.

Unlike in the House, where the fast-tracked bill breezed through on a vote of 85-1, senators debated the bill before it passed Tuesday.