[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 504 Referred in House (RFH)]

  1st Session
                                 S. 504


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 23, 2003

        Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To establish academies for teachers and students of American history 
and civics and a national alliance of teachers of American history and 
                    civics, 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 ``American History and Civics 
Education Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) American history and civics.--The term ``American 
        history and civics'' means the key events, key persons, key 
        ideas, and key documents that shaped the institutions and 
        democratic heritage of the United States of America.
            (2) Chairman.--The term ``Chairman'' means the Chairman of 
        the National Endowment for the Humanities.
            (3) Educational institution.--The term ``educational 
        institution''--
                    (A) means--
                            (i) an institution of higher education;
                            (ii) an educational institution created by 
                        a legislative act of a State for the express 
                        purpose of teaching American history and civics 
                        to elementary school and secondary school 
                        students; or
                            (iii) a nonprofit educational institution, 
                        library, or research center; and
                    (B) includes a consortium of entities described in 
                subparagraph (A).
            (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (5) Key documents.--The term ``key documents'' means the 
        documents that established or explained the foundational 
        principles of democracy in the United States, including the 
        United States Constitution and the amendments to the 
        Constitution (particularly the Bill of Rights), the Declaration 
        of Independence, the Federalist Papers, and the Emancipation 
        Proclamation.
            (6) Key events.--The term ``key events'' means the critical 
        turning points in the history of the United States (including 
        the encounter of Native Americans with European settlers, the 
        American Revolution, the Civil War, the world wars of the 
        twentieth century, the civil rights movement, and the major 
        court decisions, legislation, literature, and the arts) that 
        established democracy and extended its promise in American 
        life.
            (7) Key ideas.--The term ``key ideas'' means the ideas that 
        shaped the democratic institutions and heritage of the United 
        States, including the notions of liberty, equal opportunity, 
        individualism, laissez faire, the rule of law, federalism and e 
        pluribus unum, the free exercise of religion, the separation of 
        church and state, and a belief in progress.
            (8) Key persons.--The term ``key persons'' means the men 
        and women who led the United States as Founding Fathers, Native 
        American leaders, elected officials, scientists, inventors, 
        pioneers, advocates of equal rights, entrepreneurs, and 
        artists.
            (9) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States 
        and the District of Columbia.
            (10) Teachers of american history and civics.--The term 
        ``teachers of American history and civics'' means kindergarten 
        through grade 12 teachers who teach American history, 
        government, or civics, or who incorporate such subjects into 
        their teaching.

SEC. 3. PRESIDENTIAL ACADEMIES FOR TEACHING OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND 
              CIVICS.

    (a) Establishment.--From amounts appropriated under subsection (j), 
the National Endowment for the Humanities shall award grants, on a 
competitive basis, to educational institutions to establish 
Presidential Academies for Teaching of American History and Civics (in 
this section referred to as ``Academies'') that shall offer workshops 
for teachers of American history and civics--
            (1) to strengthen such teachers' knowledge of the subjects 
        of American history and civics; and
            (2) to learn how better to teach such subjects.
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--An educational institution that desires to 
        receive a grant under this section shall submit an application 
        to the National Endowment for the Humanities at such time, in 
        such manner, and containing such information as the National 
        Endowment for the Humanities may require.
            (2) Contents.--An application submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) include the criteria that will be used to 
                determine which teachers will be selected to attend 
                workshops offered by the Academy;
                    (B) identify the individual the educational 
                institution intends to appoint to be the primary 
                scholar at the Academy;
                    (C) include a description of the curriculum to be 
                used at workshops offered by the Academy; and
                    (D) provide an assurance that the recruitment plan 
                for which teachers will be selected to attend workshops 
                offered by the Academy will include teachers from 
                schools receiving assistance under part A of title I of 
                the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6311 et seq.), particularly those schools with 
                high concentrations of students described in section 
                1124(c) of such Act.
    (c) Number of Grants.--The National Endowment for the Humanities 
shall award not more than 12 grants to different educational 
institutions under this section.
    (d) Distribution.--The Chairman shall encourage equitable 
distribution of grants under this section among the geographical 
regions of the United States.
    (e) Grant Terms.--Grants awarded under this section shall be for a 
term of 2 years.
    (f) Use of Funds.--
            (1) Workshops.--
                    (A) In general.--An educational institution that 
                receives a grant under this section shall establish an 
                Academy that shall offer a workshop during the summer, 
                or during another appropriate time, for teachers of 
                American history and civics--
                            (i) to strengthen such teachers' knowledge 
                        of the subjects of American history and civics; 
                        and
                            (ii) to learn how better to teach such 
                        subjects.
                    (B) Duration of workshop.--A workshop offered 
                pursuant to this section shall be approximately 2 weeks 
                in duration.
            (2) Academy staff.--
                    (A) Primary scholar.--Each Academy shall be headed 
                by a primary scholar identified in the application 
                submitted under subsection (b) who shall--
                            (i) be accomplished in the field of 
                        American history and civics; and
                            (ii) design the curriculum for and lead the 
                        workshop.
                    (B) Core teachers.--Each primary scholar shall 
                appoint an appropriate number of core teachers. At the 
                direction of the primary scholar, the core teachers 
                shall teach and train the workshop attendees.
            (3) Selection of teachers.--
                    (A) In general.--
                            (i) Number of teachers.--Each year, each 
                        Academy shall select kindergarten through grade 
                        12 teachers of American history and civics to 
                        attend the workshop offered by the Academy.
                            (ii) Flexibility in number of teachers.--
                        Each Academy shall select not more than 300 and 
                        not less than 50 teachers under clause (i).
                    (B) Teachers from public and private schools.--An 
                Academy may select teachers from public schools and 
                private schools to attend the workshop offered by the 
                Academy.
    (g) Costs.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 
        teacher who attends a workshop offered pursuant to this section 
        shall not incur costs associated with attending the workshop, 
        including costs for meals, lodging, and materials while 
        attending the workshop, and may receive a stipend to cover such 
        costs.
            (2) Travel costs.--A teacher who attends a workshop offered 
        pursuant to this section shall use non-Federal funds to pay for 
        such teacher's costs of transit to and from the Academy.
    (h) Evaluation.--
            (1) In general.--At the completion of all of the workshops 
        assisted in the third year grants are awarded under this 
        section, the National Endowment for the Humanities shall 
        conduct an evaluation and submit a report on its findings to 
        the relevant committees of Congress.
            (2) Content of evaluation.--The evaluation conducted 
        pursuant to paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) determine the overall success of the grant 
                program authorized under this section; and
                    (B) highlight the best grantees' practices in order 
                to become models for future grantees.
    (i) Non-Federal Funds.--An educational institution receiving 
Federal assistance under this section may contribute non-Federal funds 
toward the costs of operating the Academy.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $7,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2004 through 2007.

SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL ACADEMIES FOR STUDENTS OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND 
              CIVICS.

    (a) Establishment.--From amounts appropriated under subsection (j), 
the National Endowment for the Humanities shall award grants, on a 
competitive basis, to educational institutions to establish 
Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics (in 
this section referred to as ``Academies'') that shall offer workshops 
for outstanding students of American history and civics to broaden and 
deepen such students' understanding of American history and civics.
    (b) Application.--
            (1) In general.--An educational institution that desires to 
        receive a grant under this section shall submit an application 
        to the National Endowment for the Humanities at such time, in 
        such manner, and containing such information as the National 
        Endowment for the Humanities may require.
            (2) Contents.--An application submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) include the criteria that will be used to 
                determine which students will be selected to attend 
                workshops offered by the Academy;
                    (B) identify the individual the educational 
                institution intends to appoint to be the primary 
                scholar at the Academy;
                    (C) include a description of the curriculum to be 
                used at workshops offered by the Academy; and
                    (D) include a description of how the educational 
                institution will--
                            (i) inform students from schools receiving 
                        assistance under part A of title I of the 
                        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
                        (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.), particularly those 
                        schools with high concentrations of students 
                        described in section 1124(c) of such Act, of 
                        the Academy; and
                            (ii) provide such students with information 
                        on how to apply to attend workshops offered by 
                        the Academy so that such students may attend 
                        the workshops.
    (c) Number of Grants.--The National Endowment for the Humanities 
shall award not more than 12 grants to different educational 
institutions under this section.
    (d) Distribution.--The Chairman shall encourage equitable 
distribution of grants under this section among the geographical 
regions of the United States.
    (e) Grant Terms.--Grants awarded under this section shall be for a 
term of 2 years.
    (f) Use of Funds.--
            (1) Workshops.--
                    (A) In general.--An educational institution that 
                receives a grant under this section shall establish an 
                Academy that shall offer a workshop during the summer, 
                or during another appropriate time, for outstanding 
                students of American history, government, and civics to 
                broaden and deepen such students' understanding of 
                American history and civics.
                    (B) Duration of workshop.--A workshop offered 
                pursuant to this section shall be approximately 4 weeks 
                in duration.
            (2) Academy staff.--
                    (A) Primary scholar.--Each Academy shall be headed 
                by a primary scholar identified in the application 
                submitted under subsection (b) who shall--
                            (i) be accomplished in the field of 
                        American history and civics; and
                            (ii) design the curriculum for and lead the 
                        workshop.
                    (B) Core teachers.--Each primary scholar shall 
                appoint an appropriate number of core teachers. At the 
                direction of the primary scholar, the core teachers 
                shall teach the workshop attendees.
            (3) Selection of students.--
                    (A) Number of students.--Each year, each Academy 
                shall select between 100 and 300 eligible students to 
                attend the workshop offered by the Academy.
                    (B) Eligible students.--A student shall be eligible 
                to attend a workshop offered by an Academy if the 
                student--
                            (i) is recommended by the student's 
                        secondary school principal (or other head of 
                        such student's academic program) to attend the 
                        workshop; and
                            (ii) will be a junior or senior in the 
                        academic year following attendance at the 
                        workshop.
    (g) Costs.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 
        student who attends a workshop offered pursuant to this section 
        shall not incur costs associated with attending the workshop, 
        including costs for meals, lodging, and materials while 
        attending the workshop.
            (2) Travel costs.--A student who attends a workshop offered 
        pursuant to this section shall use non-Federal funds to pay for 
        such student's costs of transit to and from the Academy.
    (h) Evaluation.--
            (1) In general.--At the completion of all of the workshops 
        assisted in the third year grants are awarded under this 
        section, the National Endowment for the Humanities shall 
        conduct an evaluation and submit a report on its findings to 
        the relevant committees of Congress.
            (2) Content of evaluation.--The evaluation conducted 
        pursuant to paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) determine the overall success of the grant 
                program authorized under this section; and
                    (B) highlight the best grantees' practices in order 
                to become models for future grantees.
    (i) Non-Federal Funds.--An educational institution receiving 
Federal assistance under this section may contribute non-Federal funds 
toward the costs of operating the Academy.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $14,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2004 through 2007.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF TEACHERS OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under subsection 
        (e), the National Endowment for the Humanities shall award 1 or 
        more grants to organizations for the creation of a national 
        alliance of elementary school and secondary school teachers of 
        American history and civics.
            (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the national alliance is--
                    (A) to facilitate the sharing of ideas among 
                teachers of American history and civics; and
                    (B) to encourage best practices in the teaching of 
                American history and civics.
    (b) Application.--An organization that desires to receive a grant 
under this section shall submit an application to the National 
Endowment for the Humanities at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the National Endowment for the 
Humanities may require.
    (c) Grant Term.--A grant awarded under this section shall be for a 
term of 2 years and may be reapplied after the initial term expires.
    (d) Use of Funds.--An organization that receives a grant under this 
section may use the grant funds for any of the following:
            (1) Creation of a website on the Internet to facilitate 
        discussion of new ideas on improving American history and 
        civics education.
            (2) Creation of in-State chapters of the national alliance, 
        to which individual teachers of American history and civics may 
        belong, that sponsors American history and civics activities 
        for such teachers in the State.
            (3) Seminars, lectures, or other events focused on American 
        history and civics, which may be sponsored in cooperation with, 
        or through grants awarded to, libraries, States' humanities 
        councils, or other appropriate entities.
            (4) Coordinate activities with other nonprofit educational 
        alliances that promote the teaching or study of subjects 
        related to American history and civics.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, and for any administrative 
costs associated with carrying out sections 3 and 4, $4,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2004 through 2007.

            Passed the Senate June 20, 2003.

            Attest:

                                             EMILY J. REYNOLDS,

                                                             Secretary.