Title: Educating for Democracy Act of 2020
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Educating for Democracy Act of 2020
This bill authorizes the Department of Education to award grants to states, qualified nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and qualified researchers to support and expand access to civics and history education. It also requires the National Assessment of Educational Progress in civics and history to be administered every two years to certain grade levels.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4928 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4928

   To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to support 
  educational programs in civics and history, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 30, 2020

 Mr. Coons (for himself and Mr. Cornyn) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to support 
  educational programs in civics and history, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Educating for Democracy Act of 
2020''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to support local educational agencies, elementary 
        schools, and secondary schools in selecting and making 
        available to all students innovative, engaging curricula and 
        programs in civics and history that prepare them to understand 
        American Government and engage in American democratic practices 
        as citizens and residents of the United States;
            (2) to provide resources to institutions of higher 
        education for the purposes of offering effective professional 
        development opportunities to enable and encourage teachers to 
        deliver instruction that engages students in learning civics 
        and history;
            (3) to provide resources to nonprofit organizations that 
        have developed, or are developing, programs in civic education 
        that incorporate practices that are proven to be effective in 
        engaging students, and to assist in making such curricula and 
        programs more widely available to schools and students, 
        particularly in rural and inner-city urban areas that have 
        traditionally been underserved by civic learning programs;
            (4) to provide resources to continue and expand research 
        into practices, methods, and approaches that are effective in 
        instructing elementary and secondary school students in civics 
        and history; and
            (5) to encourage participation in the National Assessment 
        of Educational Progress assessments in civics and history in 
        grades 4, 8, and 12, using a methodology sufficient to provide 
        accurate State-level data on student proficiency in civics and 
        history disaggregated so as to have statistical significance 
        for every State.

SEC. 3. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

    (a) In General.--From amounts made available under section 10 the 
Secretary of Education is authorized to carry out the civics education 
grant programs described in sections 4 through 7.
    (b) Application.--To be considered for a grant under this Act, an 
eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary of Education an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require.
    (c) Grant Duration.--Each grant under this Act shall be awarded for 
a period of not less than 3 years.
    (d) Priority.--Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the 
Secretary shall prioritize the award of grants to eligible entities 
that demonstrate the greatest potential to--
            (1) improve knowledge and engagement among students 
        traditionally underserved by comprehensive civic education and 
        American history programs, including rural and inner-city urban 
        students, English learners, students who have not completed 
        high school, and other such students;
            (2) close gaps in civic knowledge and achievement among 
        students of different income levels, racial and ethnic groups, 
        and native languages;
            (3) improve performance on the National Assessment of 
        Educational Progress assessments in civics and history among 
        students in grades 4, 8, and 12;
            (4) integrate evidence-based practices for promoting 
        student proficiency and engagement in civics; and
            (5) provide cost-effective, scalable delivery of programs 
        and services.

SEC. 4. GRANTS TO STATES.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized 
to make grants to States, on a competitive basis, to support 
educational programs in civics and history in accordance with this 
section.
    (b) Grant Amount.--The amount of each grant to a State under this 
section shall be proportional to the amount received by all local 
educational agencies in the State under part A of title I of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) 
for the previous fiscal year relative to the total such amount received 
by all local educational agencies in every State that receives a grant 
under this section.
    (c) State Reservation.--A State that receives a grant under this 
section may reserve not more than 5 percent of the amount of the grant 
for--
            (1) administrative costs of carrying out the State's 
        responsibilities under this section; and
            (2) monitoring and evaluating programs and activities 
        supported with the grant.
    (d) Subgrants to Local Educational Agencies.--A State that receives 
a grant under this section shall use not less than 95 percent of the 
amount of the grant to make subgrants, on a competitive or formula 
basis, to local educational agencies within the State to assist such 
agencies in carrying out programs to improve the achievement of 
elementary and secondary school students in the fields of civics and 
history.
    (e) Supplement Not Supplant.--A State shall use a grant under this 
section only to supplement the level of Federal, State, and local 
public funds that would, in absence of such grant, be made available 
for the activities supported by the grant, and not to supplant such 
funds.
    (f) Contents of Application.--As part of the application required 
under section 3(b), a State shall include a plan describing how the 
State intends to use the grant under this section. Each State plan 
shall include, at a minimum, the following:
            (1) An explanation of how the State will use the grant to 
        supplement, and not supplant, other public funds provided for 
        educational programs in civics and history.
            (2) Plans to address civics and history achievement gaps 
        among students of different income levels, racial and ethnic 
        backgrounds, and native languages.
            (3) Plans to improve civics and history achievement among 
        traditionally underserved students, including rural and urban 
        students and English learners.
            (4) Plans for making subgrants to local educational 
        agencies as required under subsection (d), including--
                    (A) details of how the State intends to distribute 
                funding to local educational agencies, whether by 
                competition or through a formula-based system;
                    (B) how the State's approach to distributing funds 
                to local educational agencies will take into account 
                requirements of paragraphs (1) through (3);
                    (C) criteria by which local educational agencies' 
                applications for funding will be evaluated, including 
                how such applications will take into account the 
                requirements of paragraphs (1) through (3);
                    (D) how the State will ensure that local 
                educational agencies will use grant funds to 
                supplement, and not supplant, other public funding for 
                educational programs in civics and history; and
                    (E) how the State will evaluate and hold local 
                educational agencies accountable for improved student 
                knowledge and achievement in civics and history.
            (5) An assurance that the State will participate in the 
        National Assessment of Educational Progress assessments in 
        civics and history in grades 4, 8, and 12.
            (6) In the case of a State applying to renew a grant 
        previously received under this section, an evaluation of the 
        effectiveness of the activities carried out using the previous 
        grant, which shall be based on the results of the most recent 
        National Assessment of Educational Progress assessment in 
        civics and history, to the extent the results of such 
        assessment are available at the time of the State's 
        application.

SEC. 5. GRANTS TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized 
to make grants to qualified nonprofit organizations, on a competitive 
basis, to assist such organizations in developing or expanding access 
to evidence-based curricula, instructional models, and other 
educational programs to enhance student knowledge and achievement in 
civics and history in elementary schools and secondary schools.
    (b) Contents of Application.--As part of the application required 
under section 3(b), a qualified nonprofit organization shall include a 
proposal that demonstrates how the activities proposed to be carried 
out with the grant under this section will enhance student knowledge 
and achievement in civics and history in elementary schools and 
secondary schools.
    (c) Priority of Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give priority to qualified nonprofit organizations that 
propose to use the grant to develop or expand access to curricula, 
instructional models, and other educational programs that--
            (1) address the learning needs of traditionally underserved 
        students, including rural and inner-city urban students and 
        English learners; and
            (2) incorporate evidence-based practices to enhance student 
        learning and engagement in civics and history.

SEC. 6. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized 
to make grants to institutions of higher education, on a competitive 
basis, to assist such institutions in developing and implementing 
programs to train elementary and secondary school teachers in methods 
for instructing and engaging students in civics and history.
    (b) Contents of Application.--As part of the application required 
under section 3(b), an institution of higher education shall include a 
proposal demonstrating that the institution--
            (1) has the ability to train elementary and secondary 
        school teachers to provide comprehensive civics education;
            (2) is familiar with research on practices that are proven 
        to contribute to effective instruction in civics and history 
        and will incorporate such research into the training provided 
        to teachers using the grant; and
            (3) will use the grant to make training in civics education 
        available to elementary and secondary school teachers in the 
        State or geographic region served by the institution.
    (c) Priority of Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give priority to institutions of higher education that 
propose to use the grant to carry out training programs for teachers 
that--
            (1) address the specific needs of teachers working with 
        traditionally underserved students, including rural and inner-
        city urban students and English learners; and
            (2) incorporate evidence-based practices for improving the 
        ability of teachers to provide effective instruction in civics 
        and history.

SEC. 7. RESEARCH GRANTS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized 
to make grants, on a competitive basis, to qualified researchers to 
research and evaluate--
            (1) elementary and secondary school students' knowledge of 
        civics and history; and
            (2) effective instructional practices and educator 
        professional development in the fields of civics and history.
    (b) Contents of Application.--As part of the application required 
under section 3(b), a qualified researcher shall include a description 
of the project to be funded with the grant under this section. The 
description of the project shall include a separate section that 
describes how the project may directly or indirectly affect civics 
education generally, which may include effects such as--
            (1) achieving the full participation of women, persons with 
        disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in civics and 
        history education;
            (2) increasing public civic literacy and civic engagement;
            (3) developing a diverse educator workforce; or
            (4) other such effects.
    (c) Priority of Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Secretary shall give priority to qualified researchers who propose to 
carry out activities that will benefit historically underserved 
communities, including rural and inner-city urban communities and 
communities of English learners.

SEC. 8. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS.

    Section 303(b) of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 
U.S.C. 9622(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (H) 
                as subparagraphs (E) through (I) respectively;
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
                following:
                    ``(D) conduct a national assessment, using a 
                methodology sufficient to provide accurate, 
                disaggregated, statistically significant State-level 
                data on student proficiency for every State, on student 
                academic achievement in public and private elementary 
                schools and secondary schools at least once every 2 
                years, in grades 4, 8, and 12 in civics and history;''; 
                and
                    (C) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, by 
                striking ``history, geography, civics'' and inserting 
                ``geography''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3)(A)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``(2)(E)'' and 
                inserting ``(2)(F)'';
                    (B) by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) as 
                clauses (iv) and (v), respectively;
                    (C) by inserting after clause (ii) the following:
                            ``(iii) shall conduct biennial State 
                        academic assessments of student achievement in 
                        civics and history in grades 4, 8, and 12, as 
                        described in paragraph (2)(D)''; and
                    (D) in clause (iv), as so redesignated, by striking 
                ``(2)(D)'' and inserting ``(2)(E)''.

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) The term ``civics'', when used with respect to an 
        educational program, means a program that addresses the 
        following:
                    (A) Acquisition of civic knowledge, including an 
                understanding of the history, heritage, civic life, and 
                civic institutions of the United States.
                    (B) Acquisition of civic skills, such as the 
                ability to analyze text and determine the reliability 
                of sources and an understanding of the ways in which 
                civic institutions operate and how individuals may be 
                involved in civic life.
                    (C) Acquisition of civic dispositions, values such 
                as appreciation for free speech, civil discourse, 
                tolerance and inclusion, and understanding perspectives 
                that differ from one's own as well as a disposition to 
                be civically engaged.
                    (D) Development of civic behaviors, including civic 
                habits and practices such as voting, serving on juries, 
                engagement in deliberative discussions, volunteering, 
                attending public meetings, and other activities related 
                to civic life.
            (2) The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) with respect to grant program under section 4, 
                a State;
                    (B) with respect to the grant program under section 
                5, a qualified nonprofit organization;
                    (C) with respect to the grant program under section 
                6, an institution of higher education; and
                    (D) with respect to the grant program under section 
                7, a qualified researcher.
            (3) The term ``evidence-based practices'' means practices 
        proven to contribute to the effectiveness of educational 
        programs in civics, including--
                    (A) innovative and engaging classroom instruction 
                in civics, Government, and history;
                    (B) service learning and student civic projects 
                linked to classroom learning;
                    (C) learning through participation in models and 
                simulations of democratic processes and experiential 
                learning;
                    (D) guided classroom discussion of current issues 
                and events;
                    (E) meaningful participation in school governance; 
                and
                    (F) instruction in media literacy.
            (4) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
            (5) The term ``National Assessment of Educational 
        Progress'' means the National Assessment of Educational 
        Progress carried out under section 303(b) of the National 
        Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 
        9622(b)).
            (6) The term ``qualified nonprofit organization'' means an 
        organization that--
                    (A) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
                Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and which is exempt from 
                taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; and
                    (B) has experience developing curricula, 
                instructional models, and other educational programs 
                for students in elementary schools and secondary 
                schools.
            (7) The term ``qualified researcher'' means--
                    (A) a nonprofit organization that has ability and 
                capacity to carry out scientifically valid research; or
                    (B) an individual affiliated with such an 
                organization.
            (8) The terms ``English learner'', ``elementary school'', 
        ``local educational agency'', ``secondary school'', and 
        ``State'' have the meanings given those terms in section 8101 
        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 7801).

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2021 and 
each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years--
            (1) $600,000,000 to carry out section 4;
            (2) $200,000,000 to carry out section 5;
            (3) $150,000,000 to carry out section 6; and
            (4) $50,000,000 to carry out section 7.
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