S. 860

American History Achievement Act

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II

Calendar No. 640

109th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 860

[Report No. 109–348]

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 20, 2005

Mr. Alexander (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Dodd, and Ms. Landrieu) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

September 26, 2006

Reported by Mr. Enzi, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the American History Achievement Act.

2.

Findings

Congress finds that—

(1)

the 2001 National Assessment of Educational Progress assessment in United States history had the largest percentage of students scoring below basic of any subject that was tested, including mathematics, science, and reading;

(2)

in the 2001 National Assessment of Educational Progress assessment in United States history—

(A)

33 percent of students in grade 4 scored below basic, 36 percent of students in grade 8 scored below basic, and 57 percent of students in grade 12 scored below basic;

(B)

92 percent of students in grade 12 could not explain the most important cause of the Great Depression after reading a paragraph delineating 4 significant reasons;

(C)

91 percent of students in grade 8 could not list two issues that were important in causing the Civil War and list the Northern and Southern positions on each of these issues;

(D)

95 percent of students in grade 4 could not list two reasons why the people we call pioneers moved west across the United States;

(E)

73 percent of students in grade 4 could not identify the Constitution from among 4 choices as the document that contains the basic rules used to run the United States government;

(F)

75 percent of students in grade 4 could not identify the three parts of the federal (national) government of the United States out of 4 possible choices;

(G)

94 percent of students in grade 8 could not give two reasons why it can be useful for a country to have a constitution; and

(H)

91 percent of students in grade 12 were unable to explain two ways that democratic society benefits from citizens actively participating in the political process;

(3)

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;

(4)

an appreciation for the defining events in our Nation’s history can be a catalyst for civic involvement; and

(5)

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.

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—

(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; and

(2)

in paragraph (3)(A)—

(A)

in clause (iii)—

(i)

by inserting except as provided in clause (iv), before may conduct; and

(ii)

by striking and after the semicolon;

(B)

by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and

(C)

by inserting after clause (iii) the following:

(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

.

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—

(1)

in subparagraph (I), by striking and after the semicolon;

(2)

by redesignating subparagraph (J) as subparagraph (K);

(3)

in the flush matter at the end, by striking subparagraph (J) and inserting subparagraph (K); and

(4)

by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following:

(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

.

5.

Authorization of appropriations

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

(1)

by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (a) the following:

(b)

History and civics assessments

There are authorized to be appropriated—

(1)

$7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007 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); and

(2)

such sums as may be necessary to carry out such sections for each succeeding fiscal year.

.

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).

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the American History Achievement Act.

2.

Findings

Congress finds that—

(1)

the 2001 National Assessment of Educational Progress assessment in United States history had the largest percentage of students scoring below basic of any subject that was tested, including mathematics, science, and reading;

(2)

in the 2001 National Assessment of Educational Progress assessment in United States history—

(A)

33 percent of students in grade 4 scored below basic, 36 percent of students in grade 8 scored below basic, and 57 percent of students in grade 12 scored below basic;

(B)

92 percent of students in grade 12 could not explain the most important cause of the Great Depression after reading a paragraph delineating 4 significant reasons;

(C)

91 percent of students in grade 8 could not list two issues that were important in causing the Civil War and list the Northern and Southern positions on each of these issues;

(D)

95 percent of students in grade 4 could not list two reasons why the people we call pioneers moved west across the United States;

(E)

73 percent of students in grade 4 could not identify the Constitution from among 4 choices as the document that contains the basic rules used to run the United States government;

(F)

75 percent of students in grade 4 could not identify the three parts of the federal (national) government of the United States out of 4 possible choices;

(G)

94 percent of students in grade 8 could not give two reasons why it can be useful for a country to have a constitution; and

(H)

91 percent of students in grade 12 were unable to explain two ways that democratic society benefits from citizens actively participating in the political process;

(3)

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;

(4)

an appreciation for the defining events in our Nation’s history can be a catalyst for civic involvement; and

(5)

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.

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—

(1)

in paragraph (2)(D), by inserting (with a priority in conducting assessments in United States history not less frequently than once every 4 years) after subject matter; and

(2)

in paragraph (3)(A)—

(A)

in clause (iii)—

(i)

by inserting except as provided in clause (iv), before may conduct; and

(ii)

by striking and after the semicolon;

(B)

by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and

(C)

by inserting after clause (iii) the following:

(iv)

shall conduct (in connection with assessments in United States history and civics scheduled pursuant to paragraph (2)(D)) 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

.

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—

(1)

in subparagraph (I), by striking and after the semicolon;

(2)

by redesignating subparagraph (J) as subparagraph (K);

(3)

in the flush matter at the end, by striking subparagraph (J) and inserting subparagraph (K); and

(4)

by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following:

(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

.

5.

Authorization of appropriations

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

(1)

by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (a) the following:

(b)

United States history and civics assessments

(1)

In general

In addition to amounts otherwise appropriated under subsection (a)(1)(2), there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out sections 303(b)(3)(A)(iv) and 302(e)(1)—

(A)

$8,500,000 for the fiscal year preceding the conduct of the first trial assessment described in section 303(b)(3)(A)(iv);

(B)

$8,500,000 for the fiscal year during which the first trial assessment described in section 303(b)(3)(A)(iv) is conducted; and

(C)

such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year succeeding the fiscal year described in subparagraph (B).

(2)

Amounts for the national assessment governing board

From the amounts made available under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1), not more than $500,000 shall be available for each fiscal year to carry out section 302(e)(1).

.

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).

September 26, 2006

Reported with an amendment