Bill Overview
Title: USA Civics Act of 2022
Description: 2022 This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and revises the American History for Freedom grant program. The bill renames the program as the American Civics and History Education Program. The bill authorizes the Department of Education to award grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) at least once every three years to establish or strengthen academic programs to promote American political thought and history and the history, achievements, and impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally. Currently, these grants are awarded to IHEs for three years and are focused on traditional American history and the history and achievements of Western civilization. IHEs may use grants to support additional activities, such as collaborating with federal or state humanities programs and using open educational resources.
Sponsors: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Target Audience
Population: All individuals impacted by enhanced civics education in the U.S.
Estimated Size: 331000000
- The bill targets the American Civics and History Education Program, which focuses on educational institutions.
- The primary direct beneficiaries are institutions of higher education (IHEs) that receive the grants.
- These institutions will use grants to enhance civics and history education programs, impacting students and educators within those programs.
- The emphasis on American political thought and history potentially broadens the target population to include all students in the U.S. engaging in civics education.
- The indirect beneficiaries include the broader American public, as civics education aims to promote informed and engaged citizenship.
Reasoning
- The simulated interviews cover a range of individuals from students in higher education directly impacted by the policy, to educators who are involved in teaching civics, and even to individuals in the broader public not directly engaged in IHEs but who may indirectly benefit from enhanced civics education.
- Given the budget constraints and the estimated population impact, a significant part of the immediate effect is experienced by those directly involved with academic institutions, though the broader cultural and societal impacts manifest more slowly over the years.
- The purpose of the policy is to strengthen understanding of civics, and this might take time to filter through societal levels to indirectly influence every citizen's sense of civic duty and knowledge.
- We consider well-rounded perspectives, including those who are indifferent or skeptical about the effectiveness of such policies, to determine the varied levels of policy impact across different demographics.
Simulated Interviews
College Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think any effort to expand civics education is beneficial.
- I'm excited to see if our classes will become more engaging with these funds.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
University Professor (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding for civics education is crucial, but these grants must be implemented effectively.
- I'm unsure about the long-term impact given the political climate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
High School Teacher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The move may inspire state budget enhancements for civics, boosting my high school classes too.
- I hope for a trickle-down impact from higher education to K-12.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Rural, WV)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good that higher education is getting support, but rural areas need direct attention too.
- Hopefully, improved civic education will reach more citizens soon.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Policy Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reform is necessary, and this could be a step in the right direction.
- Ensuring proper allocation will determine the policy's success.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Community College Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 20 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy leads to better resources and teaching methods.
- It's an exciting prospect as future educators need robust civics training.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Non-Profit Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Supporting higher education civics is essential, yet solutions must integrate community-focused initiatives.
- Grant money should reach non-traditional education spheres too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Graduate Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could revolutionize how civics education is approached at higher levels.
- Being directly in the field, I anticipate impactful changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Journalist (Portland, OR)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Greater emphasis on civics miss the undercurrents if not coupled with broad-based reforms.
- An informed public begins with proactive educational policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Public School Administrator (Seattle, WA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Bridging K-12 and higher education with solid civics frameworks can yield substantial benefits.
- It’s critical to monitor how grant implementations translate to local level impacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Year 3: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Year 5: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Year 10: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Year 100: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Key Considerations
- The focus on American political thought and democracy widens the grant program's thematic scope.
- Collaborations with humanities programs suggest additional operational complexities.
- The drive to use open educational resources may require upfront investment but yield long-term savings.