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.