Rep. Cleaver Recognizes National Civic Learning Week with Legislation to Strengthen Civics Education in Schools

March 7, 2023
Press Release

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, in recognition of the first-ever National Civic Learning Week, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) introduced legislation to substantially bolster civics education in schools across the country. Cleaver’s Civics Learning Act of 2023 would reaffirm Congress’ commitment to strengthening American democracy by ensuring schools have the resources needed to provide a proper, robust education in civics and our constitutional system of government to students in every community.

“It may be cliché, but it can’t be overstated: a well-informed citizenry is essential to a thriving democracy. It is absolutely vital that we as a nation do better to ensure our young people are receiving a robust education in their rights, responsibilities, and requisites as citizens of the greatest democracy known to history, and my Civics Learning Act is an important step in that effort,” said Congressman Cleaver. “As we celebrate the first-ever National Civic Learning Week, I hope that my colleagues in Congress will join with me to strengthen the democracy we love so dearly by passing this legislation and increasing funding for civics education in schools across the country.”

According to a recent study by Annenberg Public Policy Center, less than half of Americans can name all three branches of government in the United States, while 25 percent were unable to name any branches at all. Moreover, less than one quarter of eighth graders performed at or above a proficient level on the National Assessment of Education Progress Civics Exam, demonstrating a need to bolster civics education in schools. While there are numerous reasons that contribute to America’s decline in civic understanding, a 2018 report from the Brown Center on Education Policy found that social studies teachers are some of the least supported teachers in schools.

Rep. Cleaver’s Civics Learning Act of 2023 would help to bolster civics education in Missouri and across the country by:

  • Supporting investments in innovative and evidence-based civics learning and teaching programs by amending the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to increase funding by $70 million for civics education.
  • Funding elementary, middle, and high school programs to ensure a lasting foundation of civic knowledge accumulated through years of education.
  • Prioritizing funding for high-need schools, underserved populations, and low-access areas such as rural and inner-city communities, where civics education scores are lower than average.

The Civics Learning Act of 2023 is endorsed by the National Council for History Education, The Civics Center, The Andrew Goodman Foundation, and Street Law, Inc.

The Civics Learning Act of 2023 is cosponsored by Representatives Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Shontel Brown (D-OH), Cori Bush (D-MO), André Carson (D-IN), Sean Casten (D-IL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), David Cicilline (D-RI), Suzan Delbene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Annie Kuster (D-NH), John Larson (D-CT), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Grace Meng (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Dina Titus (D-NV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nikema Williams (D-GA), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).

Official text of the Civics Learning Act of 2023 is available here.

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.