USA Civics Act of 2020

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the American History for Freedom grant program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Understanding and Studying American Civics Act of 2020 USA Civics Act of 2020 2. American Civics Education Program Section 805 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1161e (1) in the section heading, by striking history for freedom civics education program (2) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking subsection (f) subsection (g) (B) by striking the Secretary is authorized to award three-year grants, on a competitive basis, the Secretary is authorized to award grants, once every 3 years and on a competitive basis, (C) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) American political thought and history; ; (D) in paragraph (2) by striking or (E) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: (3) the history, achievements, and impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally; or ; and (F) by adding at the end the following: (4) the means of participation in political and civic life. ; (3) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking as defined in section 101. , or a partnership that includes an institution of higher education and one or more nonprofit organizations, whose missions and demonstrated expertise are consistent with the purpose of this section. (B) in paragraph (2), by striking that emerged founded on the principles of representative democracy, constitutional government, individual rights, market economics, religious freedom and religious tolerance, and freedom of thought and inquiry. (C) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: (3) American political thought and history The term American political thought and history (A) the significant constitutional, political, intellectual, economic, social, and foreign policy trends and issues that have shaped the course of American history; and (B) the key episodes, turning points, texts, and figures involved in the constitutional, political, intellectual, diplomatic, social, and economic history of the United States. ; (4) in subsection (c)(2)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking traditional American political thought and history, free institutions, the impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally, or the means of participation in political and civic life; (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting , which may include the creation or use of open educational resources subsection (e)(1)(B) (5) in subsection (d)— (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) increase access to quality programming that expands knowledge of American political thought and history, free institutions, the impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally, or the means of participation in political and civic life; ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking traditional American history, free institutions, or Western civilization American political thought and history, free institutions, the impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally, or the means of participation in political and civic life. (6) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following: (e) Use of funds (1) Required use of funds Funds provided under this section shall be used— (A) to establish or strengthen academic programs or centers focused on American political thought and history, free institutions, the impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally, or the means of participation in political and civic life, which may include— (i) design and implementation of programs of study, courses, lecture series, seminars, and symposia; (ii) development, publication, and dissemination of instructional materials; (iii) research; (iv) support for faculty teaching in undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate programs; or (v) support for graduate and postgraduate fellowships, if applicable; or (B) for teacher preparation initiatives that stress content mastery regarding American political thought and history, free institutions, the impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally, or the means of participation in political and civic life; (C) for collaboration with local educational agencies for the purpose of providing elementary school and secondary school teachers an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of American political thought and history, free institutions, the impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally, or the means of participation in political and civic life; and (D) to conduct outreach activities to ensure that information about the activities funded under this section is widely disseminated— (i) to undergraduate students (including students enrolled in teacher education programs, if applicable); (ii) to graduate students (including students enrolled in teacher education programs, if applicable); (iii) to faculty; (iv) to local educational agencies; and (v) within the local community. (2) Allowable uses of funds Funds provided under this section may be used to support— (A) collaboration with entities such as— (i) nonprofit organizations whose missions and demonstrated expertise are consistent with the purpose of this section, for assistance in carrying out activities described under subsection (a); and (ii) Federal or State humanities programs, which may include those funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities; (B) the creation and use of open educational resources on American political thought and history, free institutions, or the impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally, or the means of participation in political and civic life; and (C) other activities that meet the purposes of this section. ; (7) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); (8) in subsection (g), as redesignated by paragraph (7), by striking 2009 2021 (9) by inserting after subsection (e) the following: (f) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the Secretary to prescribe an American political thought and history curriculum. .

Summary: Understanding and Studying American Civics Act of 2020 or the USA Civics Act of 2020 This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 and revises the American History for Freedom grant program. The bill renames the program as the American Civics Education Program. The bill authorizes the Department of Education to award grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) once every three years to establish or strengthen academic programs to promote American political thought and history; the history, achievements, and impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally; and the means of participation in political and civic life. Currently, such grants are awarded to IHEs for three years and are focused on traditional American history and the history and achievements of Western civilization. IHEs may use grants to support additional activities, such as collaborating with federal or state humanities programs and using open educational resources.