AMERICANISM & GOVERNMENT TEST PROGRAM

FACT SHEET

1.       The Americanism & Government Test program was started in the Department of Indiana in 1984.  Last year over 9,000 students participated in the A&G Test.

2.       The American Legion Americanism & Government Test is approved by the Division of Student Activities of the Indiana Secondary School Administrators.

3.       The Americanism & Government Test is to be given in participating high schools during the month of November as the American Education Week falls on the first full week prior to Thanksgiving.  The test is open to all students in grades 10, 11, and 12 in all public, private and parochial high schools.

4.       There will be six (6) State Winners in the Americanism & Government Test program; one boy and one girl in each of grades 10, 11, and 12.  The winners will be selected by a Department judging panel.

5.       Each State Winner will receive a $1000.00 scholarship and will be invited, along with their parents, to the Department Spring Conference to be recognized as a Department winner.

6.       Each student participating in the Americanism & Government Test will be taking the same test.  The answers on the test will be scored against a standardized answer sheet.  A 300 word essay, which is part of the A&G test, will be used as a tie-breaker.  Each student will write on the same topic.

7.       Once a student has been selected as a State Winner, that student will be ineligible to take the A&G test again.

8.       Test papers will be ordered by participating American Legion Posts or Units in cooperation with local high school officials.  The sponsoring Post or Unit will provide the test to school officials on the day the test is to be given.  The sponsoring Post or Unit will participate in the giving and grading of the test.

9.       At the local level, Legionnaires and or school officials will grade all test papers and select one (1) boy and one (1) girl from each grade taking the test as the Local Winners.  The winning test papers are forwarded to the District Americanism & Government chairman on the Post Winner Certification Form.  The District will in turn grade all District papers in the same manner.  All District Winners’ test papers are forwarded to Department Headquarters on the District Winner certification Form for final judging by the State judging panel.