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119-hr-10895119th CongressWALLET

Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

Introduced

Summary

This bill focuses on expanding high-quality civic education and service-learning in K–12 public schools nationwide by funding programs, teacher training, and new federal support structures.

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  • Students and families: Funds support new or improved civic curricula and hands-on service projects like simulations, internships, and community service that aim to boost knowledge of U.S. law, history, and civic skills. It also requires NAEP civics and history results for grades 4, 8, and 12 to be reported nationally and by State.
  • Teachers and local schools: Grants split evenly between teacher training and program development. State educational agencies can award subgrants with at least 50 percent of subgrant dollars going to high-need schools where 30 percent or more of students are low-income.
  • Federal education system and partners: Creates an Office of Civic Education led by an Assistant Secretary, a Center for Civic Excellence, and a 12-member Civic Education Advisory Committee to set best practices and pick recipients for an annual Excellence in Civics Award. The Librarian of Congress and others must develop and distribute civic education materials.

*Authorizes $400 million per year and would increase federal spending.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Civics and History Tests and Plans

The bill would add civics and history to the specified State and local education plan requirements that now mention reading and math. It would also expand National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) authority to include civics and history and require achievement data for grades 4, 8, and 12 to be published for the nation and separately by State. These changes would aim to make civics and history part of regular planning and national testing.

Grants to Expand K-12 Civics

This bill would create a competitive Civic Education and Service Learning Grant Program and authorize $400 million each fiscal year. Half of the money would go to teacher training and half to developing or running civic education and service-learning programs. Each half would be split so SEAs get 50% and non-SEA applicants get 50%. State education agencies could award subgrants to local districts, and at least 50% of a SEA’s subgrant money would have to go to LEAs serving "high-need" schools (schools with at least 30% of students from families below the poverty line). Applicants would have to choose either teacher training or program development and use grant funds only for that purpose. The Secretary would set application rules and start annual reporting to Congress within 12 months after the first grant award.

Free Civic Materials for Public

The bill would direct the Librarian of Congress, the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Archivist to jointly develop civic education materials and expand online resources. They would provide print and digital materials to schools, local libraries, and polling locations and report to Congress on those efforts. The bill would authorize whatever sums are needed beginning in fiscal year 2027 but does not specify a dollar amount.

New Civic Office, Committee, Awards

The bill would create an Office of Civic Education led by an Assistant Secretary and a Center for Civic Excellence to study and share best practices. It would also require a 12-member Civic Education Advisory Committee within 180 days, with students, educators, SEA/LEA reps, and nonprofit reps serving two-year terms and meeting at least four times a year; members would be unpaid but could receive travel expenses. The committee would recommend policy, advise on grants, and submit criteria for high-quality civic education within 12 months of formation. The Secretary would also give an annual Excellence in Civics Award starting no later than 12 months after enactment; the committee would select winners under the bill’s framework.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

PA • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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