Black History is American History Act

House Bill

H.R. 844

119th Congress

Black History is American History Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 31, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Joyce Beatty

Representative

Democratic

OH-3

Cosponsors

60

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Education

Summary

The Black History is American History Act requires entities receiving certain Department of Education grants for American history programs to include Black history in their curriculum. It also requires Black history content in National Assessment of Educational Progress tests. Grant applicants must align with National Museum of African American History and Culture resources to receive priority consideration.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

SponsorJoyce Beatty (D-OH)

Introduced1/31/2025

StatusReferred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

Black History is American History Act

The Black History is American History Act requires entities receiving certain Department of Education grants for American history programs to include Black history in their curriculum. It also requires Black history content in National Assessment of Educationa

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The Black History is American History Act requires entities receiving certain Department of Education grants for American history programs to include Black history in their curriculum. It also requires Black history content in National Assessment of Educational Progress tests. Grant applicants must align with National Museum of African American History and Culture resources to receive priority consideration.

Bill Number: 844
Sponsor: Joyce Beatty (D-OH)
Introduced: 1/31/2025
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Policy Area: Education

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Black History is American History Act
Bill Number: 844
Sponsor: Joyce Beatty (D-OH)
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced: 1/31/2025
Summary: The Black History is American History Act requires entities receiving certain Department of Education grants for American history programs to include Black history in their curriculum. It also requires Black history content in National Assessment of Educational Progress tests. Grant applicants must

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The Black History is American History Act requires entities receiving certain Department of Education grants for American history programs to include Black history in their curriculum. It also requires Black history content in National Assessment of Educational Progress tests. Grant applicants must align with National Museum of African American History and Culture resources to receive priority consideration.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Black History is American History Act This bill requires entities (e.g., institutions of higher education, libraries, and museums), in order to be eligible for certain grants administered by the Department of Education (ED), to include Black history in their teaching of American history. It also requires Black history to be included in tests administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Specifically, the bill mandates the inclusion of Black history as a required component of American history for such entities to be eligible for American History and Civics Academies' competitive grants. These grants support the establishment of (1) Presidential Academies for Teachers of American History and Civics, which offer workshops to teachers of American history and civics to strengthen their knowledge and prepare them to teach in these subjects; and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics, which support high school students in developing an understanding of these subjects. (Currently, Black history is not a required component of American history for either academy.) In addition, ED must give priority to grant applicants that align their activities with programs and resources of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture. The bill also requires the inclusion of Black history in tests administered by the NAEP, which measures student academic achievement in various subjects.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Requires Black history in American history curricula
Applies to ED American History and Civics grants
Includes Black history in NAEP testing
Prioritizes alignment with African American museum
Affects Presidential and Congressional Academies
Mandates comprehensive history education

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill ensures Black history is taught as an integral part of American history rather than a separate or optional subject. By tying requirements to federal education grants and national assessments, it creates meaningful incentives for comprehensive history education. The connection to the Smithsonian museum provides high-quality resources. This addresses concerns that American history education often inadequately covers the Black American experience.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Education

Related Subjects

Academic performance and assessments

Civics education

Education programs funding

Elementary and secondary education

Higher education

Museums, exhibitions, cultural centers

Racial and ethnic relations

Smithsonian Institution

Teaching, teachers, curricula

U.S. history

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

844, 119th Congress (2025). "Black History is American History Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-844

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