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Title 20 — EducationRelease 119-73not60

§6663 National Activities

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 › § 6663

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates a competitive grant program to support new and proven ways to teach American history, civics and government, and geography. The goal is to fund teaching methods, learning tools, and training for teachers and school leaders that help students learn more, especially low-income and underserved students. The Secretary will use reserved funds to give grants to colleges, nonprofits, or companies that have shown they can create evidence-based approaches to improve teaching and learning in these subjects. Grants must aim to raise student achievement in elementary and secondary schools, be innovative, able to grow, and show results. Programs can include hands-on civic activities and lessons on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Grants last up to 3 years and can be renewed once for 2 more years. The Secretary should try to spread grants across urban, suburban, and rural areas. Applicants must apply when and how the Secretary requires. Eligible groups are colleges or other organizations with proven expertise.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §6663

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The purpose of this section is to promote new and existing evidence-based strategies to encourage innovative American history, civics and government, and geography instruction, learning strategies, and professional development activities and programs for teachers, principals, or other school leaders, particularly such instruction, strategies, activities, and programs that benefit low-income students and underserved populations.
(b)From the amounts reserved by the Secretary under section 6661(b)(2) of this title, the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities for the purposes of expanding, developing, implementing, evaluating, and disseminating for voluntary use, innovative, evidence-based approaches or professional development programs in American history, civics and government, and geography, which—
(1)shall—
(A)show potential to improve the quality of student achievement in, and teaching of, American history, civics and government, or geography, in elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(B)demonstrate innovation, scalability, accountability, and a focus on underserved populations; and
(2)may include—
(A)hands-on civic engagement activities for teachers and students; and
(B)programs that educate students about the history and principles of the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights.
(c)(1)A grant awarded by the Secretary to an eligible entity under this section shall be for a period of not more than 3 years.
(2)The Secretary may renew a grant awarded under this section for 1 additional 2-year period.
(3)In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, grants are distributed among eligible entities that will serve geographically diverse areas, including urban, suburban, and rural areas.
(d)In order to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may reasonably require.
(e)In this section, the term “eligible entity” means an institution of higher education or other nonprofit or for-profit organization with demonstrated expertise in the development of evidence-based approaches with the potential to improve the quality of American history, civics and government, or geography learning and teaching.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 6663, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2203, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1647, authorized appropriations to carry out part B of former subchapter II of this chapter, 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 2203 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 6643 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110. Another prior section 2203 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 3013 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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 6663

Title 20 — Education

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60