| Today, Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) introduced H.R.611, the Education for Democracy Act . H.R.611 would reauthorize two extremely successful programs, the We the People…The Citizen and the Constitution program and the International Education Program. Also joining Representative Kildee in sponsoring this legislation are Congressmen George Miller (D-CA) and Michael Castle (R-DE). Both of these programs are scheduled for review by the House Education and the Workforce Committee early this year.
"These programs provide critical leadership in the areas of civic education and international education. This bill strengthens our commitment to educating the international community and our own children about the influence and impact democratic institutions have on the continued growth of the world's economy. The primary purpose of both of these programs is to increase awareness and understanding of the spirit and essence of democracy." said Congressman Kildee.
Congressman Kildee added, "In the aftermath of the presidential election, it is evident that we must use civic education to familiarize our youth with the process and procedure of democracy."
The Civic Education program is currently authorized under Title 10 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The Center for Civic Education’s program We the People...The Citizen and Constitution facilitates good citizenship and civic responsibility through a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. Constitution. The program also provides optional simulated congressional hearings, a national academic competition and distribution of free textbooks. Since 1985, this program has helped educate more than 26.5 million students in 24,000 schools across America.
The Cooperative Education Exchange Program, formerly the International Education Program, utilizes education to encourage the development and growth of democracy and free-market economies in the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Latin America and other underdeveloped countries. The program provides curricula and teacher training in civics and economics to educators in emerging democracies. Most importantly, it encourages international cooperation and gives teachers an opportunity to exchange ideas and share experiences with one another. Last year, more than 2,000 educators and 225,000 students around the world received training in the principles and tenets of democracy.
Congressmen Kildee, Castle and Miller are all senior members of the Early Childhood, Youth and Families Subcommittee which is charged with steering the oversight and reauthorization of these programs. The subcommittee will spend a majority of its time this Congress considering ways to improve and reform the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. |
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