Bill · H.R. 8402· House(119-HR-8402)
Civics Learning Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 4/21/2026
- Last activity
- 4/21/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Sponsored by
- Emanuel Cleaver
- Cosponsors
- - 23 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Civics Learning Act of 2026 aims to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to increase civics education programs. It seeks to address a lack of civics knowledge and the resulting political polarization and weakened democracy. The bill prioritizes innovative civics learning and targets students and teachers at high-need schools. It expands the types of activities eligible for funding, including historical studies on the Constitution, suffrage, and the civil rights movement. The legislation also sets specific distribution rules for grants across different school levels and geographic areas. Finally, it authorizes $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 to carry out these purposes.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this put more money into public schools?+6
The bill authorizes $70,000,000 in new funding for civics education programs in schools.
Would children be better off under this?+5
The bill increases educational opportunities and historical knowledge for elementary and middle school students.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
The bill prioritizes students and teachers at high-need schools which often serve low-income communities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Civics Knowledge: By prioritizing innovative learning and teaching, the bill aims to address the current lack of knowledge regarding the branches of government, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights (Section 2; Section 3, subsection (a)).
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Support for High-Need Schools: The bill specifically includes students and teachers at high-need schools in its focus for civics learning (Section 3, subsection (a)).
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Diverse Educational Activities: Students can benefit from various learning methods such as hands-on engagement, service learning, community service projects, and online or video game-based learning (Section 3, subsection (b)(2)).
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Historical Awareness: The bill promotes activities regarding the history and principles of the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, women's suffrage, and the civil rights movement (Section 3, subsection (b)(2)).
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Geographic and School Level Diversity: The Secretary is directed to ensure grants are distributed among geographically diverse areas, including urban, suburban, and rural areas, and among different school levels (Section 3, subsection (c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly mentioned in the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For African Americans+5Good For Children+5Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Women+5Good For Young Adults+4Good For Rural Residents+3Good For Urban Residents+3
- Education And Technology
- Increases Public School Funding+6
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+5
- 8/31/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/21/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 22 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Sean CastenDemocrat · Illinois
Angie CraigDemocrat · Minnesota
Mark DeSaulnierDemocrat · California
Dwight EvansDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Josh GottheimerDemocrat · New Jersey
William KeatingDemocrat · Massachusetts
Robin KellyDemocrat · Illinois
Stephen LynchDemocrat · Massachusetts
Betty McCollumDemocrat · Minnesota
Gwen MooreDemocrat · Wisconsin
Kevin MullinDemocrat · California
Jerrold NadlerDemocrat · New York
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Deborah RossDemocrat · North Carolina
Janice SchakowskyDemocrat · Illinois
Linda SánchezDemocrat · California
Terri SewellDemocrat · Alabama
Mary Gay ScanlonDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Jill TokudaDemocrat · Hawaii
Nydia VelázquezDemocrat · New York
Frederica WilsonDemocrat · Florida