HR 6525 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act to require State academic assessments of student achievement in United States history and civics, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

July 16, 2008CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota (for herself and Mr. WALZ of Minnesota) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act to require State academic assessments of student achievement in United States history and civics, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘American History and Civics Achievement Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the 2006 National Assessment of Educational Progress assessments in United States history and civics demonstrated high percentages of students scoring below basic even though there were increases in scores, particularly for lower-performing students, compared to previous such assessments;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in the 2006 National Assessment of Educational Progress assessment in United States history--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) 30 percent of students in grade 4 scored below basic, 35 percent of students in grade 8 scored below basic, and 53 percent of students in grade 12 scored below basic;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) a 31 point achievement gap exists for students in grade 4 who are from low-income families, as compared to students in grade 4 who are from high-income families, a 32 point achievement gap exists between black and white students in grade 4, and a 30 point achievement gap exists between white and Hispanic students in grade 4;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) 86 percent of students in grade 12 could not explain a reason for United States involvement in the Korean War;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) 99 percent of students in grade 8 could not explain how the fall of the Berlin Wall affected United States foreign policy; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) 76 percent of students in grade 4 could not explain why early American pioneers settled on the western frontier;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in the 2006 National Assessment of Educational Progress assessment in the United States civics--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) 27 percent of students in grade 4 scored below basic, 30 percent of students in grade 8 scored below basic, and 34 percent of students in grade 12 scored below basic;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) a 29 point achievement gap exists for students in grade 4 who are from low-income families, as compared to students in grade 4 who are from high-income families, a 25 point achievement gap exists between black and white students in grade 4, and a 26 point achievement gap exists between white and Hispanic students in grade 4;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) 72 percent of students in grade 8 could not explain the historical purpose of the Declaration of Independence; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) 57 percent of students in grade 12 were unable to describe the meaning of federalism in the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) America’s past encompasses great leaders and great ideas that contribute to our shared heritage and to the principles of freedom, equality, justice, and opportunity for all;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) an appreciation for the defining events in our Nation’s history can be a catalyst for civic involvement; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) the strength of American democracy and our standing in the world depend on ensuring that our children have a strong understanding of our Nation’s past.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS AUTHORIZATION ACT.

Section 303(b) of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9622(b)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (2)(D), by inserting ‘(with a priority in conducting assessments in history not less frequently than once every 4 years)’ after ‘subject matter’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (3)(A)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in clause (iii)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) by inserting ‘except as provided in clause (iv),’ before ‘may conduct’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iv) shall conduct trial State academic assessments of student achievement in United States history in grades 8 and 12 in not less than 10 States representing geographically diverse regions of the United States and in civics in grades 8 and 12 in not less than 10 States representing geographically diverse regions of the United States (with a priority given to conducting assessments in United States history); and’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. NATIONAL ASSESSMENT GOVERNING BOARD.

Section 302(e)(1) of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9621(e)(1)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ‘and’ after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as subparagraph (K);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in the flush matter at the end, by striking ‘subparagraph (J)’ and inserting ‘subparagraph (K)’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(J) in consultation with the Commissioner for Education Statistics, identify and select the States that will participate in the trial State academic assessments described in section 303(b)(3)(A)(iv); and’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

Section 305 of the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (20 U.S.C. 9624) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) History and Civics Assessments- There are authorized to be appropriated--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009 to carry out sections 303(b)(3)(A)(iv) and 302(e)(1), of which not more than $500,000 for each fiscal year shall be available to carry out section 302(e)(1); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) such sums as may be necessary to carry out such sections for each succeeding fiscal year.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

Section 113(a)(1) of the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (20 U.S.C. 9513(a)(1)) is amended by striking ‘section 302(e)(1)(J)’ and inserting ‘section 302(e)(1)(K)’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink