Notice2024-30213
Termination of Trial Testing of Redesigned Naturalization Test for Naturalization Applications
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Published
December 30, 2024
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Abstract
On December 15, 2022, DHS published a Federal Register Notice entitled "Trial Testing of Redesigned Naturalization Test for Naturalization Applications," which announced it intended to conduct a nationwide trial of planned changes to the naturalization test, including a standardized English-speaking test, as part of the requirement to demonstrate an understanding of the English language, and a civics test with updated content and format. Most comments received on the proposed trial test, including those from immigrant advocacy organizations and external stakeholders, expressed concerns about the trial test. Therefore, USCIS will no longer pursue the announced trial test.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 249 (Monday, December 30, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 106550-106551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30213]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
[CIS No. 2796-25; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2022-0011]
Termination of Trial Testing of Redesigned Naturalization Test
for Naturalization Applications
AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department
of Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On December 15, 2022, DHS published a Federal Register Notice
entitled ``Trial Testing of Redesigned Naturalization Test for
Naturalization Applications,'' which announced it intended to conduct a
nationwide trial of planned changes to the naturalization test,
including a standardized English-speaking test, as part of the
requirement to demonstrate an understanding of the English language,
and a civics test with updated content and format. Most comments
received on the proposed trial test, including those from immigrant
advocacy organizations and external stakeholders, expressed concerns
about the trial test. Therefore, USCIS will no longer pursue the
announced trial test.
DATES: As of December 30, 2024, USCIS will no longer pursue the trial
test as described in 87 FR 76634 (Dec. 15, 2022).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Flores, Office of Citizenship,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD
20746; telephone 240-721-3000 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#503e31242a223534352339373e62621025233339237e3438237e373f26"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="93fdf2e7e9e1f6f7f6e0faf4fda1a1d3e6e0f0fae0bdf7fbe0bdf4fce5">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On December 15, 2022, USCIS issued a notice indicating its plan to
conduct a trial of both a standardized English-speaking test (use of
photographs which the applicant would be asked to describe) as part of
the requirement to demonstrate an understanding of the English language
and a civics test with updated content and format (multiple choice
test).\1\ The Executive Order on Restoring Faith in Our Legal
Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts
for New Americans,\2\ directed DHS to eliminate barriers in and
otherwise improve the existing naturalization process including the
civics and English language tests. Along with the Executive Order and
feedback from stakeholders about the standardization and structure of
the naturalization test, USCIS developed the trial test for the
naturalization test redesign. USCIS announced conducting the trial as
part of its effort to redesign the naturalization test to better ensure
that the English-speaking part of the English Language requirements is
standardized and sufficiently tests the ability to understand words in
ordinary usage in the English language.\3\ Furthermore, USCIS intended
to update the civics test content to reflect current best practices in
test design and to redesign the civics test.\4\
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\1\ See Trial Testing Redesigned Naturalization Test for
Naturalization Applications, 87 FR 76634 (Dec. 15, 2022).
\2\ See Executive Order 14012 (February 2, 2021), available at
<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-02-05/pdf/2021-02563.pdf">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-02-05/pdf/2021-02563.pdf</a>.
\3\ See Trial Testing Redesigned Naturalization Test for
Naturalization Applications, 87 FR 76634 (Dec. 15, 2022).
\4\ Id.
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II. Rationale for Termination
USCIS hosted virtual public engagements on the naturalization test
redesign trial tests on January 12, 2023, March 3, 2023, April 28,
2023, and May 31, 2023.\5\ Additionally, USCIS and the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS)' Office of the CIS Ombudsman hosted a webinar
on July 19, 2023.\6\ These engagements provided an overview of the
proposed changes and next steps, including seeking volunteer community-
based organizations (CBOs) that work with immigrant English language
learners and lawful permanent residents preparing for naturalization to
take the trial test, and utilizing the results of the trial to support
changes to the naturalization test. During these engagements, USCIS
invited all interested parties to submit written data, views, comments,
and arguments on all aspects of the proposed trial testing. At these
engagements, some comments USCIS received were in opposition to the
trial test. USCIS also received comments through email or submitted
letters that opposed the trial test or had positive comments. USCIS
received more than 1300 comments from stakeholders from engagements,
emails and submitted letters. The majority of comments opposed the
trial testing.
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\5\ See Naturalization Test Redesign Development 2022 available
at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/naturalization-test-and-study-resources/naturalization-test-redesign-development-2022">https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/naturalization-test-and-study-resources/naturalization-test-redesign-development-2022</a> (last visited Nov. 20, 2024).
\6\ See The CIS Ombudsman's Webinar: Engagement with U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the Naturalization
Test Redesign Initiative, available at <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/publication/cis-ombudsmans-webinar-naturalization-test-redesign-initiative">https://www.dhs.gov/publication/cis-ombudsmans-webinar-naturalization-test-redesign-initiative</a> (last visited Nov. 20, 2024).
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USCIS received some positive comments about the trial English Test
which indicated an appreciation for a revised test, a focus of
analysis-driven approach, and attempt to make the test fairer and more
efficient, and that the trial test may be easier for lower-level
students. Most of the public feedback, however, expressed concerns
about the proposed changes to the English-speaking naturalization test.
These commenters stated the change:
<bullet> Would create new barriers to naturalization rather than
improve the naturalization process in keeping with Executive Order
14012 on Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and
Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans.\7\
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\7\ See, for example, Bill Bliss, Citizenship Test Revision Will
Create New Barrier to Naturalization (Mar. 2, 2023), <a href="https://bill-bliss.medium.com/citizenship-test-revision-will-create-new-barriers-to-naturalization-aab015cbf277">https://bill-bliss.medium.com/citizenship-test-revision-will-create-new-barriers-to-naturalization-aab015cbf277</a> (last visited Nov 20, 2024).
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<bullet> Would be adding a testing requirement, creating an
additional task for the naturalization interview and a new exam for the
applicant to prepare for, and would not elicit an applicant's English
proficiency in as relevant or accurate a manner as the current speaking
evaluation.\8\
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\8\ Id.
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USCIS received some positive comments on the announcement of the
multiple-choice format of the trial test, including that it would level
the test
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better for English as a second language students at all levels. Most
feedback, however, opposed changing the civics test to a multiple-
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choice format. These commenters stated the change:
<bullet> Would require reading comprehension skills at a
significantly higher level of English proficiency and reading
vocabulary knowledge than is currently required for naturalization.\9\
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\9\ Id.
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<bullet> Would require test-taking skills in multiple choice format
that is not currently required of naturalization applicants.\10\
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\10\ See, for example, Immigration Legal Resource Center (IRLC),
Naturalization Test Redesign (Sept. 8, 2023), <a href="https://www.ilrc.org/resources/naturalization-test-redesign">https://www.ilrc.org/resources/naturalization-test-redesign</a> (last visited Nov 20, 2024).
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<bullet> Would create new challenges for adult learners because it
requires a higher level of reading ability that cannot be met by low-
literacy adults who learn orally.\11\
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\11\ Id.
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<bullet> Would pose a barrier to those without formal
education.\12\
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\12\ Id.
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The objective of the trial was to determine an efficient way to
reduce undue barriers \13\ to taking the naturalization test and the
majority of the feedback received revealed concerns that the trial
version of the test may increase burdens on applicants. Therefore,
USCIS has decided to terminate the previously proposed trial test
altogether.
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\13\ See Executive Order 14012 (February 2, 2021), available at
<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-02-05/pdf/2021-02563.pdf">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-02-05/pdf/2021-02563.pdf</a>.
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III. Termination Is Immediately Effective
The proposed trial test is terminated effective immediately. USCIS
continues to use the current 2008 version of the English and civics
test.\14\
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\14\ See USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Citizenship and
Naturalization, Part E, English and Civics Testing and Exceptions,
Chapter 2, English and Civics Testing [12 USCIS-PM E.2], available
at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-e-chapter-2">https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-e-chapter-2</a>
(last visited Nov. 20, 2024). See also Study for the Test, available
at <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources/study-for-the-test">https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources/study-for-the-test</a> (last visited Nov. 20, 2024).
Ur M. Jaddou,
Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2024-30213 Filed 12-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-97-P
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