Civic education fund

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Applied civics The term applied civics means an educational program applying service-learning methods to provide students with practical and experiential opportunities to apply their civic knowledge and skills. (2) Civic education The term civic education means an educational program that provides participants with knowledge of law, government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens and skills that enable participants to participate responsibly in democracy. (3) Educational service agency and state educational agency The terms educational service agency and State educational agency have the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). (4) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) any local educational agency; (B) any State educational agency; (C) any educational service agency; (D) any institution of higher education; (E) any community-based organization; (F) any nonprofit, nongovernmental organization; or (G) any consortium of entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F). (5) High-need school The term high-need school means any public elementary school or secondary school that is located in an area in which the percentage of students from families with incomes below the poverty line is 30 percent or more, as determined by the Secretary. (6) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). (7) Local educational agency The term local educational agency has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801) and includes any tribally sanctioned educational authority as defined in section 3201 of that Act (20 U.S.C. 7011). (8) School The term school means— (A) any elementary school or secondary school as those terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801); and (B) any education program provided by the Secretary of Defense under section 2164 of title 10, United States Code. (9) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education. (10) Service-learning The term service-learning has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12511). (11) State The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of the United States. (b) Program authorized (1) In general The Secretary shall establish and administer a Civic Education Fund from which the Secretary makes grants under this section to eligible entities, on a competitive basis, to support the development and evaluation of civic education programs in schools. (2) Purpose The purposes of grants awarded from the Civic Education Fund are— (A) to promote and expand civic education by supporting the development and implementation of high-quality civic education, applied civics, and service-learning programming in schools; (B) to promote the development and implementation of evidence-based curricula and educational standards, and to provide teacher development, with respect to civic education, applied civics, and service-learning programming in schools; and (C) to support State and local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations in their efforts to support civic education, applied civics, and service-learning in schools. (c) Teacher development in civic education, applied civics, and service-learning (1) In general An eligible entity may apply for a grant under this section for the purpose of teacher development in civic education, applied civics, and service-learning in schools. Such grant may only be used— (A) to train teachers in effective strategies for instructing students in civic education, applied civics, and service-learning; (B) to host training sessions for teachers to share best practices and learn new skills; (C) to develop resources that teachers can use in the classroom to improve civic education, applied civics, and service-learning programs for students; (D) to coordinate with other local organizations and community-based services and programs to provide hands-on civic learning development opportunities; or (E) to support any other programs designed to ensure that teachers have the requisite knowledge and skills to successfully teach civic education and applied civics. (2) Grants (A) Reservation of funds for high-need schools Of the funds made available for grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall reserve not less than 50 percent for grants to provide services for teachers in high-need schools. (B) General grants The remainder of the funds made available for grants under this subsection (but not more than 50 percent of such funds) shall be granted on a competitive basis to eligible entities for the purpose of teacher development in civic education, applied civics, and service learning in schools. (d) Development and implementation of effective civic education, applied civics, and service-Learning programs (1) In general An eligible entity may apply for a grant under this section for activities to support effective civic education, applied civics, and service-learning programs in schools. Such grant may only be used— (A) to establish a new, or improve an existing, civic education, applied civics, or service-learning program; (B) to evaluate the effect of such programs on participants and increase the effectiveness of such programs with respect to— (i) understanding of United States law, history, and government; (ii) voting and other forms of political and civic engagement; (iii) critical thinking and media literacy; (iv) interest in employment, and careers, in military, national, and public service; and (v) the ability of participants to collaborate and compromise with others to solve problems; (C) to develop and modify curricula relating to civic education, applied civics, and service learning; (D) to create and administer classroom activities, thesis projects, individual or team projects, internships, or community service activities related to civics education; (E) to collaborate with government entities, nonprofit organizations, or consortia of such entities and organizations to provide students with experiences related to civic education; or (F) to develop and support any other programs the Secretary deems crucial to the efficacy of civic education, applied civics, or service-learning programs. (2) Grants (A) Reservation of funds for high-need schools Of the funds made available for grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall reserve not less than 50 percent for grants for programs for students in high-need schools. (B) General grants The remainder of the funds made available for grants under this subsection (but not more than 50 percent of such funds) shall be granted on a competitive basis to eligible entities for programs that develop and implement effective civic education, applied civics, and service-learning programs in schools. (e) Matching funds requirements (1) Requirements Except for grants for high-need schools under subsections (c)(2)(A) and (d)(2)(A), the Federal share of the cost of a program that receives a grant under this section, whether the grant is provided directly or as a subgrant from the original recipient of the grant, may not exceed 50 percent of such cost. (2) Calculation In providing for the remaining share of the cost of carrying out the program receiving the grant, the recipient— (A) may provide for such share through contributions in cash or in-kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities, equipment, or services; and (B) may provide for such share through non-Federal sources or from other Federal sources (other than funds made available under Federal programs administered by the Secretary). (3) Waiver The Secretary may waive in whole or in part the requirements of paragraph (1) with respect to a recipient in any fiscal year if the Secretary determines that such a waiver would be equitable due to a lack of available financial resources at the local level. (4) Report by recipient on other Federal funds A recipient of a grant to which this subsection applies shall report to the Secretary the amount and source of any Federal funds used to carry out the program for which the grant is provided, other than funds made available under programs administered by the Secretary, including the amounts and sources of the other Federal funds. (f) Geographic distribution To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure an equitable geographic distribution of grants awarded under this section. (g) Reports The Secretary shall, not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act and every 12 months thereafter, submit a report to Congress that contains the following: (1) Information on all programs for which grants were awarded under this section during the preceding 12-month period, including details on the grant recipients, the programs funded by the grants, and the schools involved in the programs funded by the grants. (2) An evaluation of the successes of all programs for which grants are awarded under this section, noting in particular the successes of such programs in achieving— (A) progress toward exposing all students in schools to a robust civic education curriculum by 2034; and (B) increases in the number of students in grades 4, 8, and 12 testing at or above the Proficient level in the civics portion of the National Assessment of Education Progress Test under section 303 of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9622), as compared with the last administration of such Assessment. (3) An assessment of the potential need for additional funding for programs under this section. (4) Information regarding each recipient of a grant under this section that uses Federal funds to carry out the program for which the grant is provided, other than funds made available under programs administered by the Secretary. (h) Regulations The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section. Such regulations shall include— (1) procedures for eligible entities to apply for grants under this section; (2) the competitive process for the awarding of grants; (3) any limitations on the use of funds from grants awarded under this section; and (4) reporting requirements by recipients of such grants. (i) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Civic Education Fund established under this section for each fiscal year not less than $100,000,000 to carry out programs authorized under subsection (c), and not less than $100,000,000 to carry out programs authorized under subsection (d).