Purposes; Rule of Construction

(a) Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to support local educational agencies, elementary schools, and secondary schools in selecting and making available to all students innovative, engaging, evidence-based, curricula and programs in civics and history that prepare them to understand American Government and engage in American democratic practices as citizens and residents of the United States; and (2) to encourage participation in the National Assessment of Educational Progress assessments in civics and history in grades 4, 8, and 12, using a methodology sufficient to provide accurate State-level data on student proficiency in civics and history, disaggregated so as to have statistical significance for every State. (b) Rule of construction Nothing in this Act shall be construed to supersede or preempt State or local control over the content, standards, or instruction in civics or history education.