Strengthening Civics Education Act
Expands federal civics and history grants, requires recurring student assessments, and creates a public directory of civics-related scholarships and fellowships.
In the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee since Sept. 30, 2026, 8 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 30, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Civics and history education helps students understand government and public life. The bill would broaden federal grants for this education, require recurring civics and history assessments with state-level results, and create a public directory of federal scholarships and fellowships. It also says states and local communities would keep control of their curricula.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Expand federal civics and history grants
The Secretary of Education could award competitive grants for civics and history education at the Secretary’s discretion, but at least once every 3 years. The bill broadens the topics and activities grants can support, including teacher preparation, partnerships between higher education institutions and nonprofits, and open educational resources; it changes the program’s authorization year from 2009 to 2027.
- Require recurring state-level civics assessments
The bill would require assessments of civics and history in grades 4, 8, and 12 at least every 2 years. The assessments would use a method intended to produce statistically significant state-level data for every state.
- Create a federal opportunities clearinghouse
The Secretary of Education, working with the Secretaries of Labor and the Interior, would create a public website listing and describing federal civics-related scholarships and fellowships for students and teachers.
- Preserve local curriculum control
The bill says it would not override state or local control over civics and history content, standards, or instruction. It also says the grant program does not authorize the Secretary of Education to prescribe an American political thought and history curriculum.
The bill’s stated purpose is to help students understand American government and take part in democratic life, and to encourage more reliable state-level information about civics and history proficiency. That information could help show how students are doing across states.
The bill also seeks to support civics and history teaching without displacing state and local control of what is taught. It does not specify funding amounts for the grant program or the new website.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 30, 2026SENATESEP 30, 2026By Sen. Coons with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 30, 2026HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, & PENSIONS NOWSEP 30, 2026In committee for 8 daysNo hearing yet
- 8 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 8, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Coons’s record: sponsored 66 bills this Congress. 8 passed the Senate; 1 became law.
- John CornynR-TXORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
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