A bill to amend the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act to require State academic assessments of student achievement in United States history and civics, and for other purposes.

Summary: American History and Civics Achievement Act - Amends the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act to direct the Commissioner for Education Statistics to give a priority to conducting national assessments of student achievement in history at least once every four years in grades 4, 8, and 12.

Requires the Commissioner to conduct, in at least ten geographically diverse states, trial state academic assessments of student achievement in: (1) U.S. history in grades 8 and 12; and (2) civics in grades 8 and 12.

Directs the National Assessment of Educational Progress governing board to select the participating states.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``American History and Civics 
Achievement Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the 2006 National Assessment of Educational Progress 
        assessments in United States history and civics demonstrated 
        high percentages of students scoring below basic even though 
        there were increases in scores, particularly for lower-
        performing students, compared to previous such assessments;
            (2) in the 2006 National Assessment of Educational Progress 
        assessment in United States history--
                    (A) 30 percent of students in grade 4 scored below 
                basic, 35 percent of students in grade 8 scored below 
                basic, and 53 percent of students in grade 12 scored 
                below basic;
                    (B) a 31 point achievement gap exists for students 
                in grade 4 who are from low-income families, as 
                compared to students in grade 4 who are from high-
                income families, a 32 point achievement gap exists 
                between black and white students in grade 4, and a 30 
                point achievement gap exists between white and Hispanic 
                students in grade 4;
                    (C) 86 percent of students in grade 12 could not 
                explain a reason for United States involvement in the 
                Korean War;
                    (D) 99 percent of students in grade 8 could not 
                explain how the fall of the Berlin Wall affected United 
                States foreign policy; and
                    (E) 76 percent of students in grade 4 could not 
                explain why early American pioneers settled on the 
                western frontier;
            (3) in the 2006 National Assessment of Educational Progress 
        assessment in the United States civics--
                    (A) 27 percent of students in grade 4 scored below 
                basic, 30 percent of students in grade 8 scored below 
                basic, and 34 percent of students in grade 12 scored 
                below basic;
                    (B) a 29 point achievement gap exists for students 
                in grade 4 who are from low-income families, as 
                compared to students in grade 4 who are from high-
                income families, a 25 point achievement gap exists 
                between black and white students in grade 4, and a 26 
                point achievement gap exists between white and Hispanic 
                students in grade 4;
                    (C) 72 percent of students in grade 8 could not 
                explain the historical purpose of the Declaration of 
                Independence; and
                    (D) 57 percent of students in grade 12 were unable 
                to describe the meaning of federalism in the United 
                States;
            (4) America's past encompasses great leaders and great 
        ideas that contribute to our shared heritage and to the 
        principles of freedom, equality, justice, and opportunity for 
        all;
            (5) an appreciation for the defining events in our Nation's 
        history can be a catalyst for civic involvement; and
            (6) the strength of American democracy and our standing in 
        the world depend on ensuring that our children have a strong 
        understanding of our Nation's past.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS 
              AUTHORIZATION ACT.

    Section 303(b) of the National Assessment of Educational Progress 
Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9622(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)(D), by inserting ``(with a priority in 
        conducting assessments in history not less frequently than once 
        every 4 years)'' after ``subject matter''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3)(A)--
                    (A) in clause (iii)--
                            (i) by inserting ``except as provided in 
                        clause (iv),'' before ``may conduct''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``and'' after the 
                        semicolon;
                    (B) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and
                    (C) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
                            ``(iv) shall conduct trial State academic 
                        assessments of student achievement in United 
                        States history in grades 8 and 12 in not less 
                        than 10 States representing geographically 
                        diverse regions of the United States and in 
                        civics in grades 8 and 12 in not less than 10 
                        States representing geographically diverse 
                        regions of the United States (with a priority 
                        given to conducting assessments in United 
                        States history); and''.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT GOVERNING BOARD.

    Section 302(e)(1) of the National Assessment of Educational 
Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9621(e)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as subparagraph (K);
            (3) in the flush matter at the end, by striking 
        ``subparagraph (J)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (K)''; and
            (4) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following:
                    ``(J) in consultation with the Commissioner for 
                Education Statistics, identify and select the States 
                that will participate in the trial State academic 
                assessments described in section 303(b)(3)(A)(iv); 
                and''.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 305 of the National Assessment of Educational Progress 
Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9624) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) History and Civics Assessments.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated--
            ``(1) $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009 to 
        carry out sections 303(b)(3)(A)(iv) and 302(e)(1), of which not 
        more than $500,000 for each fiscal year shall be available to 
        carry out section 302(e)(1); and
            ``(2) such sums as may be necessary to carry out such 
        sections for each succeeding fiscal year.''.

SEC. 6. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

    Section 113(a)(1) of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 
U.S.C. 9513(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``section 302(e)(1)(J)'' and 
inserting ``section 302(e)(1)(K)''.