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Amends Section 4107(a)(3)(E) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by replacing the existing text with a list of specified activities to support civic and government education (items (i)–(xii)).
Amends the list of allowable activities that may be included during before-, during-, or after-school programs under section 2233(b)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to specify enumerated civic and history-related activities (A)–(L).
Amends section 2231 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. 6661) to (1) change language in subsection (a), (2) redesignate subsection (b) as (c), (3) add a new subsection (b) that authorizes and appropriates $40,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out the subpart, and (4) update cross-references in the redesignated subsection (c).
Conforming amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) include striking and redesignating certain paragraphs in section 2201 and updating a cross-reference in section 2241 from 'section 2201(4)' to 'section 2201(3)'.
Creates a permanent $40 million annual appropriation to support K–12 civics and American history education under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and explicitly expands the list of allowable “well‑rounded education” activities to include a broad set of hands‑on civic and media‑literacy experiences. Schools and programs may offer mock elections, constitutional history, service learning, trips to civic sites, meetings with officials and community groups, student governance and journalism, voter‑registration support, media‑literacy instruction, respectful debate training, and online/video‑game learning. The bill integrates the new appropriation into existing ESEA text and clarifies that these activities may be offered before, during, or after school to students and teachers. It is authorizing legislation that also provides a dedicated, recurring federal funding stream for the specified civics activities.
The bill expands and standardizes hands‑on civic education and provides predictable program funding and authority—likely improving civic knowledge and engagement for many students—while creating new costs, implementation burdens, and risks of uneven access and politicized disputes that could limit,争
K–12 students across participating schools gain regular hands‑on civic experiences (mock elections, model congresses, meetings with officials, and field trips) that make civic institutions and processes tangible and boost civic engagement.
K–12 students receive formal instruction on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, increasing civic literacy about foundational law and government structure.
Students learn media‑literacy skills to evaluate information, identify sources, and better resist misinformation online.
Students from historically under‑represented groups learn about past movements that expanded participation, which can foster inclusion, empowerment, and greater civic participation.
Students in low‑resource or rural districts may be unable to implement or afford expanded activities, which could widen disparities in access to quality civic education.
Voter‑registration drives, meetings with officials, and related activities in schools could raise concerns or disputes over partisan influence and require careful neutrality and safeguards.
If the $40 million annual allocation is new funding, it could crowd out or reduce attention to other federal or state education priorities.
School districts and taxpayers may face added costs (travel, materials, staff time) to run expanded activities if grant funds or reimbursements don’t cover them.
Designates the official short title of the Act as the "Every Student is a Citizen Act."
Amends 20 U.S.C. 6661 (ESEA section 2231) by changing the opening wording of subsection (a) from a phrase referencing reserved funds to begin with 'The'.
Redesignates existing subsection (b) of 20 U.S.C. 6661 as subsection (c).
Authorizes and appropriates $40,000,000 from the Treasury for each fiscal year to carry out the subpart governed by section 2231 of the ESEA (added as new subsection (b)).
In the redesignated subsection (c) of 20 U.S.C. 6661, replaces the cross-reference 'subsection (a)' with 'subsection (b)' to reflect the insertion of the new appropriation subsection.
Students: Direct beneficiaries. The expanded allowable activities increase opportunities for K–12 students to gain civic knowledge, practice democratic skills, and develop media literacy. Programs could improve civic engagement, critical thinking, and student leadership.
Teachers & schools: Teachers and schools gain clearer statutory authority to run civic programs and may receive federal support to develop curricula, simulations, service projects, and media‑literacy instruction. Schools will need to design programs, train staff, and coordinate with partners.
Local education agencies and state education agencies: LEAs and SEAs can apply federal funds consistent with ESEA to support the new activities. The permanent $40 million appropriation provides a steady, but limited, federal resource; demand may exceed available funds, requiring local prioritization.
Community organizations and civic partners: Nonprofits, museums, civic groups, government offices, and election officials may be tapped as partners to run simulations, site visits, and voter‑registration activities.
Fiscal and operational effects: The bill authorizes a dedicated funding stream that lowers one financial barrier to offering civic programs, but $40 million nationwide is modest relative to total K–12 spending, so impacts will vary by district. The law expands permissible uses of federal funds rather than mandating new services, which preserves local choice but requires local initiative to realize impacts.
Potential controversies and practical issues: Activities like voter‑registration assistance in schools may draw public or political attention in some communities. Implementing high‑quality programs will require teacher training, curriculum development, and coordination with external partners, which can create administrative workload for districts.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced March 11, 2026 by Andy Kim · Last progress March 11, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced in Senate