Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110
§6662 Presidential and Congressional Academies for American History and Civics
Title 20 › CHAPTER 70 — STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS › SUBCHAPTER II — PREPARING, TRAINING, AND RECRUITING HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, OR OTHER SCHOOL LEADERS › Part B — National Activities › subpart 3 — american history and civics education › § 6662
Summary
Each year, using money set aside under section 6661(b)(1), the Secretary may give up to 12 competitive grants to groups that want to create two kinds of programs: Presidential Academies for teachers and Congressional Academies for outstanding students. Groups must apply when and how the Secretary asks. Eligible groups are colleges, nonprofit education groups, museums, libraries, or research centers with skills in history or civics, or a team of those groups. Grants last no more than 5 years. Presidential Academies must run a 2- to 6-week summer or similar seminar led by top scholars and experienced teachers to strengthen teachers’ knowledge of American history and civics. Each academy must pick 50 to 300 teachers each year from public or private elementary and secondary schools, and give each teacher a fixed stipend based on program length so they don’t have personal costs. Priority goes to programs that work with the National Park Service National Centennial Parks initiative. Congressional Academies must run a similar 2- to 6-week seminar for students, pick 100 to 300 students each year who are recommended by a school leader and will be juniors or seniors next year, and give each student a fixed stipend. Grantees must match the federal grant dollar-for-dollar from nonfederal sources, though the Secretary can waive all or part of that match if it would cause serious hardship or stop the program.
Full Legal Text
Title 20, §6662
Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In general
From the amounts reserved under section 6661(b)(1) of this title for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award not more than 12 grants, on a competitive basis, to—
(1)eligible entities to establish Presidential Academies for the Teaching of American History and Civics (in this section referred to as the “Presidential Academies”) in accordance with subsection (e); and
(2)eligible entities to establish Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics (in this section referred to as the “Congressional Academies”) in accordance with subsection (f).
(b)Application
An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may reasonably require.
(c)Eligible entity
The term “eligible entity” under this section means—
(1)an institution of higher education or nonprofit educational organization, museum, library, or research center with demonstrated expertise in historical methodology or the teaching of American history and civics; or
(2)a consortium of entities described in paragraph (1).
(d)Grant terms
Grants awarded to eligible entities under subsection (a) shall be for a term of not more than 5 years.
(e)Presidential Academies
(1)Use of funds
Each eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (a)(1) shall use the grant funds to establish a Presidential Academy that offers a seminar or institute for teachers of American history and civics, which—
(A)provides intensive professional development opportunities for teachers of American history and civics to strengthen such teachers’ knowledge of the subjects of American history and civics;
(B)is led by a team of primary scholars and core teachers who are accomplished in the field of American history and civics;
(C)is conducted during the summer or other appropriate time; and
(D)is of not less than 2 weeks and not more than 6 weeks in duration.
(2)Selection of teachers
Each year, each Presidential Academy shall select between 50 and 300 teachers of American history and civics from public or private elementary schools and secondary schools to attend the seminar or institute under paragraph (1).
(3)Teacher stipends
Each teacher selected to participate in a seminar or institute under this subsection shall be awarded a fixed stipend based on the length of the seminar or institute to ensure that such teacher does not incur personal costs associated with the teacher’s participation in the seminar or institute.
(4)Priority
In awarding grants under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that coordinate or align their activities with the National Park Service National Centennial Parks initiative to develop innovative and comprehensive programs using the resources of the National Parks.
(f)Congressional Academies
(1)Use of funds
Each eligible entity that receives a grant under subsection (a)(2) shall use the grant funds to establish a Congressional Academy that offers a seminar or institute for outstanding students of American history and civics, which—
(A)broadens and deepens such students’ understanding of American history and civics;
(B)is led by a team of primary scholars and core teachers who are accomplished in the field of American history and civics;
(C)is conducted during the summer or other appropriate time; and
(D)is of not less than 2 weeks and not more than 6 weeks in duration.
(2)Selection of students
(A)In general
Each year, each Congressional Academy shall select between 100 and 300 eligible students to attend the seminar or institute under paragraph (1).
(B)Eligible students
A student shall be eligible to attend a seminar or institute offered by a Congressional Academy under this subsection if the student—
(i)is recommended by the student’s secondary school principal or other school leader to attend the seminar or institute; and
(ii)will be a secondary school junior or senior in the academic year following attendance at the seminar or institute.
(3)Student stipends
Each student selected to participate in a seminar or institute under this subsection shall be awarded a fixed stipend based on the length of the seminar or institute to ensure that such student does not incur personal costs associated with the student’s participation in the seminar or institute.
(g)Matching funds
(1)In general
An eligible entity that receives funds under subsection (a) shall provide, toward the cost of the activities assisted under the grant, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 100 percent of the amount of the grant.
(2)Waiver
The Secretary may waive all or part of the matching requirement described in paragraph (1) for any fiscal year for an eligible entity if the Secretary determines that applying the matching requirement would result in serious hardship or an inability to carry out the activities described in subsection (e) or (f).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 6662, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2202, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1644, related to grants for mathematics and science partnerships, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 114–95, § 5, title II, § 2002, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1806, 1913, effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs. A prior section 2202 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 6642 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110. Another prior section 2202 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 3012 of this title, prior to the general amendment of Pub. L. 89–10 by Pub. L. 103–382.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as an
Effective Date
of 2015 Amendment note under section 6301 of this title. American History and Civics Education Pub. L. 108–474, Dec. 21, 2004, 118 Stat. 3898, as amended by Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(j), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2168, provided that: “section 1.
Short Title
.“This Act may be cited as the ‘American History and Civics Education Act of 2004’. “SEC. 2. PRESIDENTIAL ACADEMIES FOR TEACHING OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS; CONGRESSIONAL ACADEMIES FOR STUDENTS OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS.“(a) Establishment.—The Secretary of Education (referred to in this Act as the ‘Secretary’) may award not more than 12 grants, on a competitive basis—“(1) to entities to establish Presidential Academies for Teaching of American History and Civics that may offer workshops for both veteran and new teachers of American history and civics; and “(2) to entities to establish Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics. “(b) Application.—An entity that desires to receive a grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. “(c) Demonstrated Expertise.—The Secretary shall require that each entity, to be eligible to receive a grant under this section, demonstrate expertise in historical methodology or the teaching of history. “(d) Available Funds.—To carry out this section, the Secretary may use any funds appropriated for fiscal year 2005 or any subsequent fiscal year to carry out section 2232 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6662]. “SEC. 3. NATIONAL HISTORY DAY PROGRAM.“The Secretary may award grants to the National History Day Program for the purpose of continuing and expanding its activities to promote the study of history and improve instruction.” [Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(j), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2168, which directed amendment of section 2(d) of Pub. L. 108–474, set out above, by substituting “to carry out section 2232 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965” for “to carry out part D of title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965”, was executed by making the substitution for “to carry out part D of title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7241 et seq.)” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.]
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
20 U.S.C. § 6662
Title 20, Education
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110