As America celebrates its 250th birthday, the effort builds on Senator Kim’s work to deliver tools and support to young learners as they shape the next 250 years of our nation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today during Civic Learning Week, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, introduced a legislative package with the core mission to reinvigorate and reinvest in civics learning. The comprehensive proposals aim to provide an apolitical structure for civics education that help broaden civics knowledge, including of the U.S. constitution and government.
“As we reflect on the first 250 years of our nation, we need to be building out tools that will best set up younger generations for success as they shape America’s next chapter. Civics education is core to being able to understand where we come from and be inspired and informed to forge where we go next. In a time of great uncertainty, I hope this legislative package will help young people stay well-informed, engaged, and take us into the brighter future they deserve,” said Senator Kim.
The results are clear – a national survey in 2025 cited that 58% of adults fail a basic civics test. In full, Senator Kim’s effort aims to strengthen civics education across the nation to help give young learners a strong basis to become well-informed and active participants of democracy. His proposals work to expand support across all levels of government alongside nonprofits and educators to address gaps in civics education within schools but also expand out-of-the-classroom, and hands-on learning opportunities that help students best understand the diverse perspectives that contribute to our nation’s history and our democracy.
The legislative package builds on Senator Kim’s work to rise above partisanship to revamp civics education nationally, including criticizingSecretary of Education Linda McMahon’s efforts to partner with conservative organizations to launch the Trump administration’s America 250 Civics Education Coalition. This year, Senator Kim launched his own “America 250” initiative aimed at honoring America’s history and independence while also exploring lessons learned throughout the first 250 years of our nation to better shape and inform the next 250. Learn more about Senator Kim’s initiative here.
Specifically, the civics package includes:
- The American Civics Renewal Act establishes a bipartisan, bicameral congressional commission to conduct a comprehensive review of civics education across K–12, higher education, and adult learning, and identify ways the federal government can strengthen and coordinate its support to states and school districts.
- The commission is charged with evaluating existing federal programs, assessing teacher preparation and professional development, collecting best practices, and recommending strategies to elevate civics education as a national priority.
- Within two years, the commission will develop an age-appropriate model civics curriculum and issue a national strategy to help states, schools, and nonprofit partners expand high-quality, experiential civics education without imposing unfunded mandates.
- The Every Student is a Citizen Act strengthens and expands federal support for American history and civics education by unlocking access to funds provided under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
- The bill would incentivize hands-on, nonpartisan civic learning—such as mock elections, model Congresses, service-learning projects, media literacy, and respectful debate—while also encouraging student engagement in school governance, journalism, and community problem-solving.
- In addition, the bill permanently authorizes the Department of Education’s American History and Civics Academies with a dedicated $40 million annual investment.
- The American Stories Act expands the authority of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities to support films, radio, video, and other media projects that broaden public understanding of civics and the United States Constitution.
- By explicitly authorizing civic-focused storytelling and educational programming, the bill leverages the power of the arts and humanities to reach audiences beyond the classroom and make constitutional principles more accessible, engaging, and relevant to communities nationwide.
- A resolution that directs the Senate Rules and Administration Committee to establish an annual, nationwide academic competition for secondary school students.
- Modeled on successful initiatives like the Congressional Art Competition and App Challenge, the competition is designed to elevate student achievement in civics, strengthen civic reasoning and media literacy skills, and encourage youth engagement at a time of declining civic knowledge.
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