Meijer, Scanlon Introduce Bill to Promote, Expand Civic Education

Press Release

U.S. Representatives Peter Meijer (R-MI) and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) today introduced the Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act of 2021 to promote and expand high quality, evidence-based civic education and service-learning programming in K-12 public schools.

According to a 2020 report by the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, significantly greater federal investment in civic education, widespread adoption of proven, state-based best practices, and incorporation of service-learning within school curricula are critical to preparing young Americans to realize their obligations as citizens and expose them to opportunities to engage in military, national, and public service.

The Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act of 2021 will create a Civic Education and Service-Learning Grant Program to support the implementation of high quality, evidence-based civic education and service-learning programming in K-12 public schools. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $400,000,000 for the Civic Education and Service-Learning Grant Program. It will also establish an Office of Civic Education within the Department of Education to promote civic education throughout the United States.

"Studies today show students lack access and exposure to high-quality civic education in U.S. classrooms. A federal investment in civic education and service-learning would help prepare young Americans to realize their duties as citizens and cultivate a culture of service to country," said Rep. Meijer. "Serving my country has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences of my life. That call to service may exist in students across our country who don't currently have the resources to gain more meaningful knowledge about the different ways to demonstrate their civic responsibility. I'm proud to join Rep. Scanlon in introducing this legislation to improve civic education and increase participation in military, national, and public service with heightened focus on experiential learning in congressional hearing, courtroom, and public hearing simulations in schools throughout Michigan and across the country. Our students and teachers deserve these resources and learning opportunities."

"As a long-standing advocate for civics education -- as a parent, an education advocate, a school board member and now as a member of Congress -- I've never seen a time when there was a greater need to enhance our schools' ability to provide high-quality civics education," said Rep. Scanlon. "I volunteered for decades to provide civics enrichment activities in my children's schools and at Constitution High School, a magnet school for civics education and service learning in Philadelphia. Our young people need to acquire the skills to understand how our government works, become effective citizens, advocate for themselves and their communities, and navigate the masses of misinformation found on social media. I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort alongside Rep. Meijer to expand and revitalize civic education and promote public service in the United States."

The Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act is supported by the Michigan Center for Civic Education, the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools, CivXNow Coalition, and the Center for Civic Education.

"The Michigan Center for Civic Education (MCCE) applauds Representative Meijer for his commitment to informed, active, and vibrant civic communities. The Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act of 2021 represents a significant milestone in raising the awareness of and support for meaningful civic education. The Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act of 2021 represents student-centered, inquiry driven, and problem-based educational possibilities. We welcome the emphasis on developing civic knowledge, civic skills, and civic dispositions. Opportunities to practice those skills in K-12 settings are proven to inspire the confidence and competence necessary for meaningful civic engagement. The Act would allow more professional learning opportunities for teachers to cultivate their own knowledge and skills to inspire their students, schools, and communities. MCCE enthusiastically endorses The Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act of 2021as it paves the way for the knowledge, skills, and dispositions our students need to fully participate in the practice of democracy." -- Ellen Zwarensteyn, Executive Director, Michigan Center for Civic Education

"Representative Mary Gay Scanlon's and Representative Peter Meijer's Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act of 2021 offers significant and much-needed assistance to states and local school districts in fulfilling their essential Civic Mission to provide high-quality civic education to all students. Their legislation, enacting the recommendations of the nonpartisan National Commission on Military, National, Public Service, should be swiftly passed by Congress to help ensure a well informed and engaged citizenry." --Ted McConnell, Executive Director, Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools

"We are grateful for the bipartisan agreement and commitment to civic education and service learning as critical investments for all K-12 schools, as demonstrated by the cosponsors of the Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act. The CivXNow Coalition, a project of iCivics, is deeply committed to greater federal prioritization of, and investment in, K-12 civics as a means of strengthening our constitutional democracy. We believe the Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act significantly advances this goal and are particularly thankful for the leadership of Representatives Scanlon and Meijer on this issue." --Shawn Healy, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy, iCivics

The Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act would:

Create a Civic Education and Service-Learning Grant Program to:
Support the development and implementation of high-quality, evidence-based civic education and service-learning programming in K-12 public schools and promote hands-on civic learning activities like simulated Congressional hearings, simulated public hearings, and courtroom simulations.
Provide teacher development with respect to civic education and service-learning programming in K-12 public schools.
Assist states, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations in supporting civic education and service learning in K-12 public schools.
Establish an Office of Civic Education within the Department of Education to promote civic education throughout the United States.
Require the administration of National Assessments of Education Progress (NAEPs) in civics and history at the same frequency as reading and mathematics in grades 4, 8, and 12; and require that civics and history assessment data is published in the aggregate for the United States and separately for each state.
Establish an annual Excellence in Civics Award to highlight excellence in the development and teaching of civic education and service learning.
Support the development and distribution of educational materials and teaching resources related to civic education and effective citizenship by the Library of Congress, Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the National Archives.

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