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It reiterates opposition to replacing the current oral exam with a written multiple-choice civics test, arguing the approach will lower naturalization pass rates. The letter explains that the described format increases reading, vocabulary, and comprehension demands, raises literacy and accessibility barriers for low-literacy, non-Roman alphabet native-language populations, and requests further disclosure and public responses.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/nwg-citizenship-test-pilot-sign-on-letter-8-23-2023/310171/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/nwg-citizenship-test-pilot-sign-on-letter-8-23-2023/310171.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Graffin","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-09-20",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"Why do the signatories oppose the pilot’s written multiple-choice civics test format?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"They argue that a written multiple-choice civics test will impose higher reading and comprehension burdens than the current oral exam, which they believe will reduce pass rates for naturalization applicants.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"How does the letter describe the literacy demands of the proposed written test?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"It states the described test would require applicants to be able to read much more text than the current study list, use more complex civics vocabulary and phrases, and would effectively raise the literacy level needed for success.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"What concerns do the signatories raise about exemptions and USCIS claims?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"They say USCIS’s assertion that reading skills will not be tested seems inaccurate and that limited information is provided on when and how applicants qualify for exemptions, creating uncertainty and potential inequity.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},310171,1790459562,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":52,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145,"preview_page_count":4},3573418547284,"https://eur-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_994ba38a5ba835b3df7d355c54d3ed8d","August 23 , 2023  \nEva Millona, Chief, USCIS Office of Citizenship, Partnership & Engagement  \nU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 5900 Capital Gateway Drive  \nCamp Springs, MD 20746  \nDear Ms. Millona:  \nWe, the undersigned 95 organizations, naturalization assistance providers, education experts, and other individuals, write to reiterate and emphasize our continued concern with the ongoing U.S. citizenship test redesign pilot. We note, with gratitude, your continued engagement on this topic. However, we wish to provide further clarification and reasoning for our concerns with the pilot as we believe any implementation of the proposed approaches will result in a lower pass rate for naturalization applicants.1 Further, we wish to respond to the statements shared with stakeholders during various meetings and engagements.  \nMany of us are participants in the Naturalization Working Group ( NWG) . The NWG is coordinated by the NALEO Educational Fund and is made up of national, state, and local organizations and individuals committed to helping lawful permanent residents ( LPRs) become U.S. citizens. The NWG strives to improve federal policies and practices related to naturalization and to educate legislators and other policymakers about the need to eliminate barriers to naturalization. Our coalition’s expertise derives from its multiple member organizations that have significant experience in promoting naturalization and in assisting newcomers with the U.S. citizenship process, including immigrants who are serving in our military. The NWG is the policy complement to the New Americans Campaign ( NAC) , a diverse nonpartisan national network of immigrant-serving organizations, legal services providers, faith-based organizations, immigrant rights groups, foundations, and community leaders. The Campaign transforms the way aspiring citizens navigate the path to becoming new Americans. Through our extensive networks with service providers, immigration practitioners, and naturalization applicants, we have developed a profound understanding of the barriers faced by individuals seeking to obtain naturalization.  \nI. The Multiple-Choice Civics Test Cannot Be Implemented As Described  \nWe want to underscore our strong opposition to piloting and usage of a written multiple-choice civics test in place of the current oral exam. We are very concerned that United States Citizenship and Immigration Service ( USCIS) will not accommodate low-literacy populations,  \n1 The authors have written to and met with senior USCIS leadership about U.S.citizenship test revisions on several occasions both before and since the present test review process began, including in group letters dated March 1 , 2023 and April 14 , 2023. We have described our serious concerns with test design and procedures around piloting revised tests, and have asked for more disclosures, and the opportunity toto share feedback and receive responses to it publicly. We are sending the present letter to elaborate on our apprehension regarding the ongoing pilot test and operational plans USCIS has previewed, in light of the information presented in the Ombudsman’s Office’s recent stakeholder webinar and other public engagements.  \nincluding people with lower digital literacy, taking the proposed civics test. Many people who will struggle with a written test would pass it were it to be delivered orally. Members of these negatively affected groups are disproportionately likely, as compared to all immigrants, to be less than fluent in English2 ; to be Black, Indigenous, or people of color3 , to be living with a disability4 , and to be long-term U.S. residents5. They have been underrepresented in the past among naturalized citizens, and integrating them fully into their communities and our nation should therefore be a top priority for this Administration.  \nUSCIS’s assertion that it will not test applicants’ reading skills during its pilot, including the skills of people with lower litera","cbCaipW3FchtBrA1","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaipW3FchtBrA1","pdf",137437,"English","# Concerns about the civics test redesign pilot\n## Opposition to a written multiple-choice civics test instead of the oral exam\n## Literacy, disability, and language barriers affecting pass rates\n## Questions about exemption criteria and USCIS testing assumptions","[{\"question\":\"Why do the signatories oppose the pilot’s written multiple-choice civics test format?\",\"answer\":\"They argue that a written multiple-choice civics test will impose higher reading and comprehension burdens than the current oral exam, which they believe will reduce pass rates for naturalization applicants.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the letter describe the literacy demands of the proposed written test?\",\"answer\":\"It states the described test would require applicants to be able to read much more text than the current study list, use more complex civics vocabulary and phrases, and would effectively raise the literacy level needed for success.\"},{\"question\":\"What concerns do the signatories raise about exemptions and USCIS claims?\",\"answer\":\"They say USCIS’s assertion that reading skills will not be tested seems inaccurate and that limited information is provided on when and how applicants qualify for exemptions, creating uncertainty and potential inequity.\"}]","NWG Citizenship Test Pilot Sign On Letter - 8 - 23 - 2023 | PDF",1789876366,25]