The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is raising the bar for high school students enrolled in seminary, adding tests and reading requirements to a program that previously just required attendance.
Church-run seminary classes are geared toward students ages 14 to 18 and overview the Mormon scriptures in 50-minute, daily sessions typically held at a home or LDS meetinghouse in the mornings before regular high school classes begin.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports teenagers will now have to take biannual tests and meet reading requirements in order to graduate from seminary.
Teenagers who don't meet testing or reading requirements can still receive a certificate of recognition.
Church officials say the new rigor should better prepare teenagers for their missionary assignments.