- § 6661. Program authorized
- § 6662. Presidential and Congressional Academies for American History and Civics
- § 6663. National activities
§ 6661. Program authorized
(a) In general
From the amount reserved by the Secretary under section 6621(3) of this title, the Secretary is authorized to carry out an American history and civics education program to improve—
(1) the quality of American history, civics, and government education by educating students about the history and principles of the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights; and
(2) the quality of the teaching of American history, civics, and government in elementary schools and secondary schools, including the teaching of traditional American history.
(b) Funding allotment
Of the amount available under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary—
(1) shall reserve not less than 26 percent for activities under section 6662 of this title; and
(2) may reserve not more than 74 percent for activities under section 6663 of this title.
(Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2231, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2002, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1945.)
§ 6662. Presidential and Congressional Academies for American History and Civics
(a) In general
From the amounts reserved under section 6661(b)(1) of this title for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award not more than 12 grants, on a competitive basis, to—
(1) eligible entities to establish Presidential Academies for the Teaching of American History and Civics (in this section referred to as the “Presidential Academies”) in accordance with subsection (e); and
(2) eligible entities to establish Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics (in this section referred to as the “Congressional Academies”) in accordance with subsection (f).
(b) Application
(c) Eligible entity
The term “eligible entity” under this section means—
(1) an institution of higher education or nonprofit educational organization, museum, library, or research center with demonstrated expertise in historical methodology or the teaching of American history and civics; or
(2) a consortium of entities described in paragraph (1).
(d) Grant terms
(e) Presidential Academies
(1) Use of funds
Each eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (a)(1) shall use the grant funds to establish a Presidential Academy that offers a seminar or institute for teachers of American history and civics, which—
(A) provides intensive professional development opportunities for teachers of American history and civics to strengthen such teachers’ knowledge of the subjects of American history and civics;
(B) is led by a team of primary scholars and core teachers who are accomplished in the field of American history and civics;
(C) is conducted during the summer or other appropriate time; and
(D) is of not less than 2 weeks and not more than 6 weeks in duration.
(2) Selection of teachers
(3) Teacher stipends
(4) Priority
(f) Congressional Academies
(1) Use of funds
Each eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (a)(2) shall use the grant funds to establish a Congressional Academy that offers a seminar or institute for outstanding students of American history and civics, which—
(A) broadens and deepens such students’ understanding of American history and civics;
(B) is led by a team of primary scholars and core teachers who are accomplished in the field of American history and civics;
(C) is conducted during the summer or other appropriate time; and
(D) is of not less than 2 weeks and not more than 6 weeks in duration.
(2) Selection of students
(A) In general
(B) Eligible students
A student shall be eligible to attend a seminar or institute offered by a Congressional Academy under this subsection if the student—
(i) is recommended by the student’s secondary school principal or other school leader to attend the seminar or institute; and
(ii) will be a secondary school junior or senior in the academic year following attendance at the seminar or institute.
(3) Student stipends
(g) Matching funds
(1) In general
(2) Waiver
(Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2232, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2002, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1945.)
§ 6663. National activities
(a) Purpose
(b) In generalFrom the amounts reserved by the Secretary under section 6661(b)(2) of this title, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities for the purposes of expanding, developing, implementing, evaluating, and disseminating for voluntary use, innovative, evidence-based approaches or professional development programs in American history, civics and government, and geography, which—
(1) shall—
(A) show potential to improve the quality of student achievement in, and teaching of, American history, civics and government, or geography, in elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(B) demonstrate innovation, scalability, accountability, and a focus on underserved populations; and
(2) may include—
(A) hands-on civic engagement activities for teachers and students; and
(B) programs that educate students about the history and principles of the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights.
(c) Program periods and diversity of projects
(1) In general
(2) Renewal
(3) Diversity of projects
(d) Applications
(e) Eligible entity
(Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2233, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2002, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1947.)