H.R. 10314: To direct the Secretary of Education to conduct a study on the efforts of States, local educational agencies, and public elementary and secondary schools to educate students about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.

This bill would not require schools to change what they teach about September 11, 2001. Instead, it would direct the Secretary of Education, working with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, to study how states and public schools are teaching students about 9/11.

What the study would look at

The study would examine:

• All states.
• A nationally representative sample of local education agencies, such as school districts.
• A representative sample of public elementary and secondary schools in those districts.

What information would be collected

The Secretary would look at whether states and school districts:

• Require 9/11 education in the curriculum, or make it optional.
• Have standards or rules about teaching 9/11.
• Have a central place that collects and shares lesson plans or other materials.
• Offer training or professional development for teachers.
• Work with outside organizations such as museums and cultural centers.
• Face challenges or gaps that make it harder to teach the topic.
• Need more training or resources to support teachers.

The study would also examine:

• What schools and districts hope students learn from a 9/11 unit.
• Which teaching methods are being used, such as classroom discussion, homework, project-based learning, trauma-informed instruction, and lessons spread across the school year.
• What kinds of materials are used, including primary sources.
• How schools measure student learning, including both traditional tests and other types of assessments.
• Whether students learn factual knowledge about 9/11 and can analyze terrorism in historical and current contexts.

Report to Congress

After finishing the study, the Secretary of Education would have to send Congress a report on the results. The report would be due within 180 days after the study is completed, or within 3 years after the bill becomes law, whichever comes first.

Definition of 9/11 education

The bill defines “9/11 education” as educational activities meant to:

• Improve students’ awareness and understanding of 9/11.
• Teach lessons from 9/11 to raise awareness about preventing terrorism.
• Study the history of terrorism.

Relevant Companies

None found