Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today introduced the Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act, legislation to promote and expand high-quality, evidence-based civic education and service learning programming in K-12 public schools. The bill is introduced as federal and state funding and programs for civic education have dwindled in recent years.

According to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, funding for K-12 civics education increased from $7.75 million to $23 million between 2022 and 2024 to support teacher professional development, curriculum development, and student programming. However, recent budget proposals would cut $12 billion from K-12 education programs, including grants to increase access to civic education. 

The Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act will create a Civic Education and Service Learning Grant Program to encourage 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.

“High-quality civic education is critical to having an informed and engaged electorate, able to participate in a functioning democracy,” said Rep. Scanlon. “Expanding civic education helps young people understand their roles and responsibilities as citizens and empowers them to participate in our government and communities. I’m proud to introduce the Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act to expand civic education in our public schools for our next generation of leaders.”

The Teaching Engaged Citizenship Act will:

• Establish the Civic Education and Service Learning Grant Program to award grants to eligible entities for promoting and expanding civic education in public elementary and secondary schools.

• Create the Office of Civic Education within ED to promote civic education throughout the United States.

• Requires the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in civics and history to be administered in grades 4, 8, and 12, and to publish assessment data 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.

Find the full bill text here.

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