[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 971 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 971

   To direct the Director of the National Museum of African American 
   History and Culture to conduct a study on Black history education 
   efforts in public elementary and secondary schools, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 9, 2023

Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. McGovern, 
Mr. Nadler, Ms. Blunt Rochester, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Payne, 
Ms. Norton, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Carson, Mr. 
    Davis of Illinois, and Mr. Carter of Louisiana) introduced the 
     following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House 
                             Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To direct the Director of the National Museum of African American 
   History and Culture to conduct a study on Black history education 
   efforts in public elementary and secondary schools, 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 ``Black History Matters Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDY AND REPORT ON BLACK HISTORY EDUCATION.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) In general.--During the period described in paragraph 
        (2), the Director of the National Museum of African American 
        History and Culture (referred to in this Act as the 
        ``Director'') shall conduct a study on Black history education 
        efforts in public elementary and secondary schools.
            (2) Period.--The Director shall, with respect to the study 
        required under paragraph (1)--
                    (A) begin such study not later than 180 days after 
                the date of the enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) complete such study not later than 3 years 
                after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Elements.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the 
Director shall--
            (1) identify States and local educational agencies that 
        require Black history education as part of the curriculum 
        taught in public elementary and secondary schools;
            (2) identify States and local educational agencies that do 
        not require Black history education as part of the curriculum 
        taught in public elementary and secondary schools;
            (3) assess the quality of Black history education provided 
        by public elementary and secondary schools, including through 
        the qualitative and quantitative analysis of such indicators 
        as--
                    (A) in-class discussion;
                    (B) educational activities conducted outside the 
                classroom, including homework assignments; and
                    (C) project based learning;
            (4) assess the types and quality of instructional materials 
        used to teach students about Black history;
            (5) examine the duration and comprehensiveness of any Black 
        history-related courses or lessons provided by public 
        elementary and secondary schools; and
            (6) analyze the approaches used by such schools to assess 
        students' knowledge of Black history, including the use of 
        traditional and nontraditional assessments.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Following the completion of the study 
        under subsection (a), the Director shall prepare and submit to 
        Congress a report on the results of the study.
            (2) Deadline for submittal.--The report required under 
        paragraph (1) shall be submitted not later than 180 days after 
        the completion of the study under subsection (a)(2)(B).
    (d) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``elementary school'', ``local 
        educational agency'', ``secondary school'', and ``State'' have 
        the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).
            (2) Black history.--The term ``Black history'' means the 
        study and stories of Black life in the United States and around 
        the world, with a specific focus on the triumphs and struggles 
        (including political, social, and cultural achievements) of 
        African Americans throughout the United States.
            (3) Black history education.--The term ``Black history 
        education'' means educational activities that are specifically 
        intended--
                    (A) to improve students' awareness and 
                understanding of the history of people of African 
                descent, especially as it relates to United States 
                history;
                    (B) to educate students on the lessons of chattel 
                slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, and the Civil 
                Rights movement as a means to raise awareness about the 
                importance of preventing genocide, hate, and bigotry 
                against any group of people; and
                    (C) to study the history of racism, its deep 
                historical roots, the use of discrimination and 
                propaganda that target the Black people, and the 
                evolving nature of white supremacy over time.
            (4) Project based learning.--The term ``project based 
        learning'' means a teaching method through which students learn 
        by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful 
        projects.
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