COCHRAN COSPONSORS BILL TO IMPROVE TEACHING
OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS IN SCHOOLS
Legislation Would Create Academies to Promote History & Civics Among Teachers, Students
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today announced his support for a legislative effort to improve the teaching of American history and civics.
The Improving the Teaching and Learning of American History and Civics Act of 2009 (S.659) would consolidate and expand federal education programs on American history and civics.
“The United States is stronger as a nation when its people have a well-grounded understanding of American history and civics. This legislation is intended to improve existing education programs while providing new energy for the teaching and learning of these core American subjects,” Cochran said.
The measure, introduced by Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), has been referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
The legislation would create an American History and Civic Education section under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, while repealing the American History and Civic Education Act of 2004. The measure outlines greater support for the existing National History Day, Close Up Fellowship, Cooperative Education Exchange and “We the People…The Citizen and the Constitution” programs.
Major components of S.659 include:
- Increasing authorization for funding “Teaching American History” programs in local school districts
- Authorizing the creation of 100 summer academies for outstanding students and teachers of U.S. History and align those academies with locations in the National Park Service Centennial Parks
- Requiring states to develop and implement standards for student assessments in U.S. History, although there would be no federal accountability requirement as there is for reading and mathematics under the No Child Left Behind Act
- Allowing states to compare history and civics test scores of 8th and 12th grade students by establishing a 10-state pilot program that would expand the National Assessment of Education Progress
