Survey reveals only 3.5 percent of Arizona public high school students could pass citizenship test
Just in time to celebrate Independence Day, a new survey of 1,300 Arizona public high school students reveals that only 3.5 percent have enough basic civics knowledge to pass a U.S. citizenship test. The details of the survey were released by the Goldwater Institute today in "Freedom from Responsibility: A Survey of Civic Knowledge Among Arizona High School Students."
The report's findings are based on a telephone survey conducted by Strategic Vision, LLC. The firm tested the civic knowledge of Arizona high school students by asking 10questions taken from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) exam. In order to become U.S. citizens, new immigrants are asked 10 questions and must correctly answer six of them. The first-time passing rate for immigrants is 92.4 percent. The survey found that only 3.5 percent of Arizona high school students would pass the exam.
Survey questions include:
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
Answer: The Constitution
2. Who was the first President?
Answer: Washington
3. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
Answer: Six
"The results of this survey are deeply troubling," said Matthew Ladner, Ph.D., vice president of research at the Goldwater Institute. "Despite the billions of dollars poured into education, Arizona high school students display a profound level of ignorance about American history, government and geography."
An understanding of government and history are crucial to the preservation of liberty and our democratic institutions. Furthermore, the promotion of civic knowledge continues to serve as a major justification for public schools and the billions spent funding social studies, government and history courses. This survey suggests Arizona's schools fail to teach the most fundamental information required for citizenship.
Although all three groups of Arizona high school students surveyed--public, charter and private high school students--scored alarmingly low on the test, charter and private school students scored slightly better. The passing rate for charter schools was about two times higher than in traditional public schools and private school students passed at a rate almost four-times higher than traditional public school.
The report calls on Arizona lawmakers to require students to pass the USCIS citizenship exam, administered by a third party, as a condition for receiving a high school diploma, or that Arizona universities use it as a pre-condition for admittance. Ultimately, students should have a basic working knowledge of American history and government in order to graduate, Dr. Ladner said.
"Our schools should be required to graduate students that are prepared to fully engage in civic life," Dr. Ladner said. "At the very least, they should be able to identify the U.S. Constitution."
"Freedom from Responsibility" is available online. The Goldwater Institute is a nonprofit public policy research and litigation organization whose work is made possible by the generosity of its supporters.
Source: Becky Bracken for The Goldwater Institute
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Why aren't Arizona high schools teaching civics?
Just in time to celebrate Independence Day, the Goldwater Institute will release its new report, "Freedom from Responsibility: A Survey of Civic Knowledge Among Arizona High School Students," which reveals only 3.5 percent of Arizona high school students have learned the basic history, government and geography necessary to pass the U.S. Citizenship test.
To conduct the survey, we hired a firm to interview 1,140 Arizona high school students and ask 10 questions drawn at random from the exam given to applicants for United States citizenship. Applicants for citizenship must get six out of 10 questions correct to pass. A recent trial found that 92.4 percent of citizenship applicants passed the test on the first try.
Below are the survey questions, the correct answers, and in parentheses the percentage of public school students providing the correct answer for each question.
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
Answer: The Constitution (29.5%)
2. What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?
Answer: The Bill of Rights (25%)
3. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Answer: Senate and House (23%)
4. How many Justices are on the Supreme Court?
Answer: Nine (9.4%)
5. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Answer: Jefferson (25.3%)
6. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
Answer: Atlantic (58.8%)
7. What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Answer: Democratic and Republican (49.6%)
8. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
Answer: Six (14.5%)
9. Who was the first President of the United States?
Answer: Washington (26.5%)
10. Who is in charge of the Executive Branch?
Answer: The President (26%)
Only 3.5 percent of traditional public high school students passed the test. That's 40 students out of a sample of 1,134 district high school students.
Arizona's 8th grade social studies standards require that students learn about everything from John Locke to the Mayflower Compact to the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution before high school. It isn't clear what, if anything, Arizona students are learning in these classes, but it is abundantly clear what they are not learning--U.S. civics, history and geography.
In the report, I recommend that all Arizona high school students be required to pass a version of the U.S. Citizenship exam in order to graduate. Since then, one of our supporters came up with an even better idea: Make the exam a requirement for receiving a driver's license. Interesting thought...
Source: Matthew Ladner, Ph.D. for The Goldwater Institute
To conduct the survey, we hired a firm to interview 1,140 Arizona high school students and ask 10 questions drawn at random from the exam given to applicants for United States citizenship. Applicants for citizenship must get six out of 10 questions correct to pass. A recent trial found that 92.4 percent of citizenship applicants passed the test on the first try.
Below are the survey questions, the correct answers, and in parentheses the percentage of public school students providing the correct answer for each question.
1. What is the supreme law of the land?
Answer: The Constitution (29.5%)
2. What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?
Answer: The Bill of Rights (25%)
3. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
Answer: Senate and House (23%)
4. How many Justices are on the Supreme Court?
Answer: Nine (9.4%)
5. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Answer: Jefferson (25.3%)
6. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
Answer: Atlantic (58.8%)
7. What are the two major political parties in the United States?
Answer: Democratic and Republican (49.6%)
8. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
Answer: Six (14.5%)
9. Who was the first President of the United States?
Answer: Washington (26.5%)
10. Who is in charge of the Executive Branch?
Answer: The President (26%)
Only 3.5 percent of traditional public high school students passed the test. That's 40 students out of a sample of 1,134 district high school students.
Arizona's 8th grade social studies standards require that students learn about everything from John Locke to the Mayflower Compact to the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution before high school. It isn't clear what, if anything, Arizona students are learning in these classes, but it is abundantly clear what they are not learning--U.S. civics, history and geography.
In the report, I recommend that all Arizona high school students be required to pass a version of the U.S. Citizenship exam in order to graduate. Since then, one of our supporters came up with an even better idea: Make the exam a requirement for receiving a driver's license. Interesting thought...
Source: Matthew Ladner, Ph.D. for The Goldwater Institute
Monday, June 15, 2009
Phoenix Union High School District Truth in Taxation Hearing Scheduled for June 25
The Phoenix Union High School District will hold a truth in taxation hearing on Thursday, June 25 at 6:00 p.m. in the Governing Board room at the District office, 4502 N. Central Ave. Below is the District’s notice, as required by state law:
In compliance with §15-905.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, Phoenix Union High School District is notifying its property taxpayers of Phoenix Union High School District’s intention to raise its primary property taxes over the current level to pay for increased expenditures in those areas where the Governing Board has the authority to increase property taxes for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009. The Phoenix Union High School District is proposing an increase in its primary property tax levy of $9,564,710.
The amount proposed above will cause Phoenix Union High School District’s primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to increase from $82.76 to $96.65.*
These amounts proposed are above the qualifying tax levies as prescribed by state law, if applicable. The increase is also exclusive of any changes that may occur from property tax levies for voter approved bonded indebtedness or budget and tax overrides.
All interested citizens are invited to attend the public hearing on the proposed tax increase on June 25, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., Phoenix Union High School District – Board Room, 4502 North Central Avenue – 1st Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85012.
*This tax rate was calculated at the maximum amount of increase assuming no change to the current funding formula. This primary property tax levy does not take into account any Legislative budget cuts for fiscal year 2009/2010 which could cause the property tax increase to be less than indicated in this notice.
Source: Contact: Craig Pletenik (602) 764-1530, Phoenix Union High School District
In compliance with §15-905.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, Phoenix Union High School District is notifying its property taxpayers of Phoenix Union High School District’s intention to raise its primary property taxes over the current level to pay for increased expenditures in those areas where the Governing Board has the authority to increase property taxes for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009. The Phoenix Union High School District is proposing an increase in its primary property tax levy of $9,564,710.
The amount proposed above will cause Phoenix Union High School District’s primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to increase from $82.76 to $96.65.*
These amounts proposed are above the qualifying tax levies as prescribed by state law, if applicable. The increase is also exclusive of any changes that may occur from property tax levies for voter approved bonded indebtedness or budget and tax overrides.
All interested citizens are invited to attend the public hearing on the proposed tax increase on June 25, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., Phoenix Union High School District – Board Room, 4502 North Central Avenue – 1st Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85012.
*This tax rate was calculated at the maximum amount of increase assuming no change to the current funding formula. This primary property tax levy does not take into account any Legislative budget cuts for fiscal year 2009/2010 which could cause the property tax increase to be less than indicated in this notice.
Source: Contact: Craig Pletenik (602) 764-1530, Phoenix Union High School District
Friday, June 5, 2009
New Principals at Camelback, Trevor Browne and Interim Asst. Supt. Named
New principals for Camelback and Trevor Browne High Schools were approved by the Phoenix Union Governing Board, June 4, and a former principal will become an interim assistant superintendent.
Dr. Chad Gestson will become the Camelback principal, July 1. Gabriel Trujillo takes over as interim principal of Trevor Browne, replacing Jose Arenas, who has been named Interim Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources.
Gestson was principal at Carl T. Smith Middle School in the Isaac School District for the past three years, and was an assistant principal for two years. He taught for three years in the Roosevelt School District. Gestson earned his Doctor of Education at NAU this year, holds two Masters from NAU and ASU, and a B.A. in English from the University of Washington. Prior to his public school career, he was a commercial construction superintendent in Seattle. Gestson, a Teach for America product, attended the Harvard University Urban School Leader Institute in 2007 and participated in the Arizona Department of Education Wallace Grant Leadership Cadre. He lives in Phoenix.
Trujillo has been the Assistant Principal for Registration at Trevor Browne for the past three years. Prior to joining the District, he served as a principal at a charter high school for one year. He taught social studies and ESL English for five years before becoming assistant principal at another charter high school for two years. Trujillo earned a B.A. in History from Park University (Missouri), a Post-baccalaureate Secondary Education degree and a Masters of Education at ASU. He is currently in the DELTA Doctoral Program of Ed. Leadership at ASU. Trujillo resides in Surprise.
Arenas recently completed his second year as principal of Trevor Browne High School. He was an assistant principal at Cesar Chavez High School from 2000-2006 and served as the District’s Director of Language Acquisition for one year. Arenas was a teacher for nine years and principal for five years in the Isaac Elementary District prior to coming to PUHSD. A graduate of North High, Arenas earned his Bachelors in Elementary Education and his Masters in Education Leadership from ASU. A resident of Avondale, he also serves as a governing board member for the Tolleson Union High School District. Arenas takes over for Nora Gutierrez, who is now the Assistant Superintendent for Operations.
Source: Phoenix Union High School District
Dr. Chad Gestson will become the Camelback principal, July 1. Gabriel Trujillo takes over as interim principal of Trevor Browne, replacing Jose Arenas, who has been named Interim Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources.
Gestson was principal at Carl T. Smith Middle School in the Isaac School District for the past three years, and was an assistant principal for two years. He taught for three years in the Roosevelt School District. Gestson earned his Doctor of Education at NAU this year, holds two Masters from NAU and ASU, and a B.A. in English from the University of Washington. Prior to his public school career, he was a commercial construction superintendent in Seattle. Gestson, a Teach for America product, attended the Harvard University Urban School Leader Institute in 2007 and participated in the Arizona Department of Education Wallace Grant Leadership Cadre. He lives in Phoenix.
Trujillo has been the Assistant Principal for Registration at Trevor Browne for the past three years. Prior to joining the District, he served as a principal at a charter high school for one year. He taught social studies and ESL English for five years before becoming assistant principal at another charter high school for two years. Trujillo earned a B.A. in History from Park University (Missouri), a Post-baccalaureate Secondary Education degree and a Masters of Education at ASU. He is currently in the DELTA Doctoral Program of Ed. Leadership at ASU. Trujillo resides in Surprise.
Arenas recently completed his second year as principal of Trevor Browne High School. He was an assistant principal at Cesar Chavez High School from 2000-2006 and served as the District’s Director of Language Acquisition for one year. Arenas was a teacher for nine years and principal for five years in the Isaac Elementary District prior to coming to PUHSD. A graduate of North High, Arenas earned his Bachelors in Elementary Education and his Masters in Education Leadership from ASU. A resident of Avondale, he also serves as a governing board member for the Tolleson Union High School District. Arenas takes over for Nora Gutierrez, who is now the Assistant Superintendent for Operations.
Source: Phoenix Union High School District
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