Legislation has been reintroduced authorizing the federal government to make a large investment in K-12 history and civics education. The bill authorizes $1 billion in spending per-year over the next six fiscal years for grants to states, institutions of higher education, qualified non-profits, and researchers. The National Coalition for History (NCH) has endorsed the bill which has been renamed the “Civics Secures Democracy Act. (HR 1814, S. 879.)”
The bill has been reintroduced in the US House of Representatives by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). The legislation has also been reintroduced in the US Senate by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
- Authorizes $1 billion in spending per-year over the next six fiscal years for grants to states, institutions of higher education, qualified non-profits, and researchers.
- Establishes new grant programs for state and local education agencies to strengthen and improve their approach to civic and history education.
- Provides funding for non-profit entities to develop or expand access to evidence-based curricula, instructional models, and other educational programs to enhance student knowledge and achievement in civics and history.
- Provides grants to higher education institutions to assist in developing and implementing programs to train elementary and secondary school teachers in methods for instructing and engaging students in civics and history.
- Specifically prohibits use of the funds for the development of any national curriculum in American history or civic education.
We are asking all NCH organizations to alert your members asking them to urge their US Senators and House Members to co-sponsor the bill. In addition, if your group would like to endorse the bill, please let me know.
Our colleagues at CivXNow have compiled a “Civics Secures Democracy Act” advocacy toolkit. Their website includes email templates to allow your members to contact their elected representatives to request their support for the bill. It also includes telephone scripts if they prefer to call instead. The website includes a comprehensive review of the bill and a list of organizational supporters.
