LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Board of Education says a bill requiring high school seniors to pass a citizenship test is the wrong way to create an informed public.

Assistant Commissioner Brian Halstead told a legislative committee Tuesday that the state should focus instead on enhancing its current programs.

The measure by Omaha Sen. Bob Krist would require students to answer 70 percent of questions on the federal immigration test correctly before graduation to ensure they have a basic knowledge of civics.

Krist says the bill could be implemented using free resources, but Halstead says the test wasn’t designed for students. Halstead says taking the test only requires students to memorize facts, not use critical thinking skills.

The board officially took a neutral stance on the measure.