Civics Secures Democracy Act Reintroduced in the Senate
A bipartisan group of senators has reintroduced the Civics Secures Democracy Act of 2021, which would authorize a historic investment to support K–12 civic education and American history.
Over the last several decades, civics education in American schools has seen a significant decline. Given the divisiveness in our politics and the lack of knowledge and understanding of democratic principles, norms, and institutions, a robust investment in civics education is needed.
The Civics Secures Democracy Act is a bipartisan initiative to support states and local school districts in offering the civic education needed to equip youth in the United States with the civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become informed and engaged members of society. The legislation is sponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). AACTE anticipates that a companion bill will be introduced in the House of Representatives in the coming weeks.
The Civics Secures Democracy Act would create a variety of grants to states, nonprofits, institutions of higher education, and civics education researchers to support and expand access to civics and history education. It includes the USA Civics Act, which would reauthorize existing grant programs targeted to strengthen American civics programs and promote more comprehensive studies of American history. And, importantly, the Act specifically prohibits use of the funds for the development of any national curriculum in American history or civics education.
AACTE urges you to reach out to your Members of Congress to encourage them to support the Civics Secures Democracy Act.
Tags: advocacy, content areas, federal issues, funding
