Civics Learning Act of 2026

Summary#

This bill, the Civics Learning Act of 2026, would change a part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to increase and guide federal grants for K–12 civics education. It expands the kinds of civics activities that grants may fund (for example, hands-on civic engagement, lessons on the Constitution and civil rights history, service learning, student governance, and online or video game–based learning). The bill adds that students and teachers at high-need schools should be included, directs the Secretary of Education to seek geographic diversity in grantees, and sets minimum and maximum funding shares for elementary, middle, and high school programs. It also creates a grant preference for programs that use the listed activities, requires more application information, requires an annual report to two Congressional committees, and authorizes $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

What it means for you#

• Schools and organizations can apply for grants to run civics programs that include classroom lessons, before- or after-school activities, service projects, student government support, and digital or game-based learning.
• The bill says to include students and teachers at high-need schools and to award grants across urban, suburban, and rural areas, and to public elementary schools.
• At least 30% of grant funds should go to elementary programs, at least 30% to middle school programs, and no more than 40% to high school programs.
• Grant applicants that carry out the listed activities would get preference.
• The Department of Education must report each year to the House and Senate education committees with information about grantees, whether they met the program purposes, and recommendations.

Expenses#

• The bill authorizes $70,000,000 to carry out the amended section for fiscal year 2027, in addition to amounts reserved under section 2231(b)(2).
• No publicly available information on costs for other years or estimated total program costs beyond the FY2027 authorization.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s findings state that many Americans lack basic civics knowledge, that civics education is uneven, and that teaching the full history of the nation (including the civil rights movement and women’s suffrage) is important to prepare informed participants in democracy. The bill is framed to expand access to civics learning, especially for high-need schools, and to support diverse, hands-on, and modern teaching methods.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.