[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10314 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                               H. R. 10314

To direct the Secretary of Education to conduct a study on the efforts 
   of States, local educational agencies, and public elementary and 
 secondary schools to educate students about the terrorist attacks of 
              September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 8, 2026

Mr. Gottheimer (for himself and Ms. Stefanik) introduced the following 
  bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Education to conduct a study on the efforts 
   of States, local educational agencies, and public elementary and 
 secondary schools to educate students about the terrorist attacks of 
              September 11, 2001, 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. STUDY AND REPORT ON 9/11 EDUCATION.

    (a) Study.--Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in coordination with 
the head of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, shall conduct 
a study on the efforts of States, local educational agencies, and 
public elementary schools and secondary schools to educate students on 
the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (hereafter referred to as 
``9/11''). Such study shall include an examination of--
            (1) all States;
            (2) a nationally representative sample of local educational 
        agencies; and
            (3) a representative sample of public elementary and 
        secondary schools served by the local educational agencies 
        being studied.
    (b) Elements.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the 
Secretary of Education shall--
            (1) determine whether the States and local educational 
        agencies being studied require 9/11 education as part of the 
        curriculum taught in public elementary schools and secondary 
        schools;
            (2) identify the States and local educational agencies 
        being studied that have optional 9/11 education as part of the 
        curriculum taught in public elementary schools and secondary 
        schools;
            (3) identify each State's standards and the requirements of 
        the local educational agencies being studied relating to 9/11 
        education and summarize the status of the implementation of 
        such standards and requirements, including--
                    (A) the existence of a centralized apparatus at the 
                State or local level that collects and disseminates 9/
                11 education curricula and materials;
                    (B) the existence of 9/11 education professional 
                development opportunities for pre-service and in-
                service teachers;
                    (C) the involvement of informal educational 
                organizations in implementing 9/11 education, including 
                museums and cultural centers;
                    (D) an assessment of the challenges or gaps that 
                may prevent educators from fulfilling 9/11 education 
                requirements; and
                    (E) the identification of training and resources 
                needed to support educators teaching about 9/11;
            (4) determine--
                    (A) the range of intended outcomes from a 9/11 
                education unit at the State and local educational 
                agency level; and
                    (B) the methods teachers are using that result in 
                successfully achieving intended learning outcomes, 
                which may include--
                            (i) in-class discussion;
                            (ii) educational activities conducted 
                        outside the classroom, including homework 
                        assignments and experiential learning involving 
                        State and local organizations, such as museums 
                        and cultural centers;
                            (iii) project based learning;
                            (iv) educational materials and activities 
                        that are developmentally appropriate and taught 
                        through a trauma-informed lens; and
                            (v) integration of lessons from 9/11 across 
                        the curriculum and throughout the school year;
            (5) identify the types of instructional materials used to 
        teach students about 9/11, including the use of primary source 
        material; and
            (6) identify the approaches used by public elementary 
        schools and secondary schools to assess outcomes using 
        traditional and nontraditional assessments, including 
        assessments of--
                    (A) students' knowledge of 9/11; and
                    (B) students' ability to identify and analyze 
                terrorism in historical and contemporary contexts.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Following the completion of the study 
        under subsection (a), the Secretary of Education shall prepare 
        and submit to Congress a report on the results of the study.
            (2) Deadline for submittal.--The report under paragraph (1) 
        shall be submitted not later than the earlier of--
                    (A) 180 days after the completion of the study 
                under subsection (a); or
                    (B) 3 years after the date of enactment of this 
                Act.
    (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) 9/11 education.--The term ``9/11 education'' means 
        educational activities that are specifically intended--
                    (A) to improve students' awareness and 
                understanding of 9/11;
                    (B) to educate students on the lessons of 9/11 as a 
                means to raise awareness about the importance of 
                preventing terrorism; and
                    (C) to study the history of terrorism.
            (3) 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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