(D) 57 percent of students in grade 12 
were unable to describe the meaning of fed-
eralism in the United States; 
(4) America’s past encompasses great leaders 
and great ideas that contribute to our shared herit-
age and to the principles of freedom, equality, jus-
tice, and opportunity for all; 
(5) an appreciation for the defining events in 
our Nation’s history can be a catalyst for civic in-
volvement; 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 Na-
tion’s past. 
SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF 
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS AUTHORIZATION 
ACT. 
Section 303(b) of the National Assessment of Edu-
cational 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)— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
05:31 Jul 17, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6525.IH
H6525
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
(A) in clause (iii)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘except as provided in 
clause (iv),’’ before ‘‘may conduct’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi-
colon; 
(B) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause 
(v); and 
(C) by inserting after clause (iii) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(iv) shall conduct trial State aca-
demic 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 con-
ducting assessments in United States his-
tory); 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— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
05:31 Jul 17, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6525.IH
H6525
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
(1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as sub-
paragraph (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 fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(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 Edu-
cational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9624) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) HISTORY
AND CIVICS ASSESSMENTS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
05:31 Jul 17, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6525.IH
H6525
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS
‘‘(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 sec-
tion 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 strik-
ing ‘‘section 302(e)(1)(J)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 
302(e)(1)(K)’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
05:31 Jul 17, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6525.IH
H6525
wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with BILLS