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108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1078
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 4, 2003
Mr. Wicker introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
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A BILL
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.
(2) Chairperson.--The term ``Chairperson'' means the
Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
(3) 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)).
(4) 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.
(5) Key events.--The term ``key events'' means the critical
turning points in the history of the United States (including
the American Revolution, the Civil War, the world wars of the
twentieth century, the civil rights movement, and the major
court decisions and legislation) that contributed to extending
the promise of democracy in American life.
(6) Key ideas.--The term ``key ideas'' means the ideas that
shaped the democratic institutions and heritage of the United
States, including the notion of equal justice under the law,
freedom, individualism, human rights, and a belief in progress.
(7) Key persons.--The term ``key persons'' means the men
and women who led the United States as founding fathers,
elected officials, scientists, inventors, pioneers, advocates
of equal rights, entrepreneurs, and artists.
(8) Nonprofit educational institution.--The term
``nonprofit educational institution''--
(A) means--
(i) an institution of higher education; or
(ii) a nonprofit educational research
center; and
(B) includes a consortium of entities described in
subparagraph (A).
(9) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States
and the District of Columbia.
SEC. 3. PRESIDENTIAL ACADEMIES FOR TEACHING OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND
CIVICS.
(a) Establishment.--From amounts appropriated under subsection (j),
the Chairperson shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to
nonprofit 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 learn how better to teach the subjects of American
history and civics; and
(2) to strengthen such teachers' knowledge of such
subjects.
(b) Application.--
(1) In general.--A nonprofit educational institution that
desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an
application to the Chairperson at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Chairperson may require.
(2) Contents.--An application submitted under paragraph (1)
shall--
(A) include the criteria the nonprofit educational
institution intends to use to determine which teachers
will be selected to attend workshops offered by the
Academy;
(B) identify the individual the nonprofit
educational institution intends to appoint to be the
primary professor at the Academy; and
(C) include a description of the curriculum to be
used at workshops offered by the Academy.
(c) Number of Grants.--Except as provided in subsection (e)(2)(B),
the Chairperson shall award not more than 12 grants to different
nonprofit educational institutions under this section.
(d) Distribution.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Chairperson shall ensure that such grants are equitably distributed
among the geographical regions of the United States.
(e) Grant Terms.--
(1) In general.--Grants awarded under this section shall be
for a term of 2 years.
(2) Grants after first two years.--Upon completion of the
first 2-year grant term, the Chairperson shall--
(A) renew a grant awarded under this section to a
nonprofit educational institution for one more term of
2 years; or
(B) award a new grant to a nonprofit educational
institution having an application approved under this
section for a term of 2 years, notwithstanding the 12
grant award maximum under subsection (c).
(f) Use of Funds.--
(1) Workshops.--
(A) In general.--A nonprofit 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 kindergarten through grade 12 teachers of American
history and civics--
(i) to learn how better to teach the
subjects of American history and civics; and
(ii) to strengthen such teachers' knowledge
of 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 professor.--Each Academy shall be
headed by a primary professor 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 professor shall
appoint an appropriate number of core teachers. At the
direction of the primary professor, 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 approximately 300
kindergarten through grade 12 teachers of
American history and civics to attend the
workshop offered by the Academy.
(ii) Flexibility in number of teachers.--An
Academy may select more than or fewer than 300
teachers depending on the population in the
region where the Academy is located.
(B) Teachers from same region.--In selecting
teachers to attend a workshop, an Academy shall select
primarily teachers who teach in schools located in the
region where the Academy is located.
(C) 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.
(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.--Not later than 90 days after completion of all of
the workshops assisted in the third year grants are awarded under this
section, the Chairperson shall conduct an evaluation to--
(1) determine the overall success of the grant program
authorized under this section; and
(2) highlight the best grantees' practices in order to
become models for future grantees.
(i) Non-Federal Funds.--A nonprofit 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 Chairperson shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to
nonprofit 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.--A nonprofit educational institution that
desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an
application to the Chairperson at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Chairperson may require.
(2) Contents.--An application submitted under paragraph (1)
shall--
(A) include the criteria the nonprofit educational
institution intends to use to determine which students
will be selected to attend workshops offered by the
Academy;
(B) identify the individual the nonprofit
educational institution intends to appoint to be the
primary professor at the Academy; and
(C) include a description of the curriculum to be
used at workshops offered by the Academy.
(c) Number of Grants.--Except as provided in subsection (e)(2)(B),
the Chairperson shall award not more than 12 grants to different
nonprofit educational institutions under this section.
(d) Distribution.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Chairperson shall ensure that such grants are equitably distributed
among the geographical regions of the United States.
(e) Grant Terms.--
(1) In general.--Grants awarded under this section shall be
for a term of 2 years.
(2) Grants after first two years.--Upon completion of the
first 2-year grant term, the Chairperson shall--
(A) renew a grant awarded under this section to a
nonprofit educational institution for one more term of
2 years; or
(B) award a new grant to a nonprofit educational
institution having an application approved under this
section for a term of 2 years, notwithstanding the 12
grant award maximum under subsection (c).
(f) Use of Funds.--
(1) Workshops.--
(A) In general.--A nonprofit 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 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 professor.--Each Academy shall be
headed by a primary professor 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 professor shall
appoint an appropriate number of core teachers. At the
direction of the primary professor, the core teachers
shall teach the workshop attendees.
(3) Selection of students.--
(A) In general.--
(i) Number of students.--Each year, each
Academy shall select approximately 300 eligible
students to attend the workshop offered by the
Academy.
(ii) Flexibility in number of students.--An
Academy may select more than or fewer than 300
eligible students depending on the population
in the region where the Academy is located.
(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 secondary school) to attend the
workshop; and
(ii) will be a junior or senior in a public
or private secondary school in the academic
year following attendance at the workshop.
(C) Students from same region.--In selecting
students to attend a workshop, an Academy shall select
primarily students who attend secondary schools located
in the region where the Academy is located.
(g) Costs.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a
student who attends a workshop offered pursuant to this section
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