Black History Matters Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1359 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1359

   To direct the Director of the National Museum of African American
   History and Culture to conduct a study on Black history education
   efforts in public elementary and secondary schools, and for other
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 13, 2025

Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Norton, Mr. Johnson
 of Georgia, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mr. Nadler, Mr. McGovern, Mr.
 Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Green of Texas,
Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Carson, Mr. Cohen,
    Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Tlaib, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms.
   Williams of Georgia, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Waters, Mr.
Espaillat, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Turner of
   Texas, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Brown, Ms. Pressley, Mr. Menendez, Mrs.
Ramirez, Ms. Plaskett, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Lee of
 Pennsylvania, and Mr. Grijalva) introduced the following bill; which
         was referred to the Committee on House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

   To direct the Director of the National Museum of African American
   History and Culture to conduct a study on Black history education
   efforts in public elementary and secondary schools, and for other
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Black History Matters Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDY AND REPORT ON BLACK HISTORY EDUCATION.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) In general.--During the period described in paragraph
        (2), the Director of the National Museum of African American
        History and Culture (referred to in this Act as the
        ``Director'') shall conduct a study on Black history education
        efforts in public elementary and secondary schools.
            (2) Period.--The Director shall, with respect to the study
        required under paragraph (1)--
                    (A) begin such study not later than 180 days after
                the date of the enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) complete such study not later than 3 years
                after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Elements.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the
Director shall--
            (1) identify States and local educational agencies that
        require Black history education as part of the curriculum
        taught in public elementary and secondary schools;
            (2) identify States and local educational agencies that do
        not require Black history education as part of the curriculum
        taught in public elementary and secondary schools;
            (3) assess the quality of Black history education provided
        by public elementary and secondary schools, including through
        the qualitative and quantitative analysis of such indicators
        as--
                    (A) in-class discussion;
                    (B) educational activities conducted outside the
                classroom, including homework assignments; and
                    (C) project based learning;
            (4) assess the types and quality of instructional materials
        used to teach students about Black history;
            (5) examine the duration and comprehensiveness of any Black
        history-related courses or lessons provided by public
        elementary and secondary schools; and
            (6) analyze the approaches used by such schools to assess
        students' knowledge of Black history, including the use of
        traditional and nontraditional assessments.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Following the completion of the study
        under subsection (a), the Director shall prepare and submit to
        Congress a report on the results of the study.
            (2) Deadline for submittal.--The report required under
        paragraph (1) shall be submitted not later than 180 days after
        the completion of the study under subsection (a)(2)(B).
    (d) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) ESEA terms.--The terms ``elementary school'', ``local
        educational agency'', ``secondary school'', and ``State'' have
        the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
        7801).
            (2) Black history.--The term ``Black history'' means the
        study and stories of Black life in the United States and around
        the world, with a specific focus on the triumphs and struggles
        (including political, social, and cultural achievements) of
        African Americans throughout the United States.
            (3) Black history education.--The term ``Black history
        education'' means educational activities that are specifically
        intended--
                    (A) to improve students' awareness and
                understanding of the history of people of African
                descent, especially as it relates to United States
                history;
                    (B) to educate students on the lessons of chattel
                slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, and the Civil
                Rights movement as a means to raise awareness about the
                importance of preventing genocide, hate, and bigotry
                against any group of people; and
                    (C) to study the history of racism, its deep
                historical roots, the use of discrimination and
                propaganda that target the Black people, and the
                evolving nature of white supremacy over time.
            (4) Project based learning.--The term ``project based
        learning'' means a teaching method through which students learn
        by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful
        projects.
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