 CHAPTER 70--STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
                                 SCHOOLS
 
             SUBCHAPTER X--PROGRAMS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
 
                         Part F--Civic Education
 
Sec. 8142. Instruction in civics, government, and the law


(a) Program established

    The Secretary is authorized to carry out a program of awarding 
grants and contracts to assist State and local educational agencies and 
other public and private nonprofit agencies, organizations, and 
institutions to enhance--
        (1) attainment by students of challenging State content 
    standards and challenging State student performance standards in 
    civics, government, and the law; and
        (2) attainment by the Nation of the third and the sixth National 
    Education Goals.

(b) Authorized activities

    Assistance under this section may support new and ongoing programs 
in elementary and secondary schools that provide for--
        (1) the development and implementation of curricular programs 
    that enhance student understanding of--
            (A) the values and principles which underlie, and the 
        institutions and processes which comprise, our Nation's system 
        of government;
            (B) the role of law in our constitutional democracy, 
        including activities to promote--
                (i) legal literacy;
                (ii) a dedication by students to the use of nonviolent 
            means of conflict resolution such as arbitration, mediation, 
            negotiation, trials, and appellate hearings; and
                (iii) respect for cultural diversity and acceptance of 
            cultural differences; and

            (C) the rights and responsibilities of citizenship;

        (2) professional development for teachers, including preservice 
    and inservice training;
        (3) outside-the-classroom learning experiences for students, 
    including community service activities;
        (4) the active participation of community leaders, from the 
    public and private sectors, in the schools; and
        (5) the provision of technical assistance to State and local 
    educational agencies and other institutions and organizations 
    working to further the progress of the Nation in attaining the third 
    and sixth National Education Goals regarding civics and government.

(c) Applications, peer review and priority

                   (1) Submission of applications

        A State or local educational agency, other public or private 
    nonprofit agency, organization, or institution that desires to 
    receive a grant or enter into a contract under this section shall 
    submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
    and containing or accompanied by such information as the Secretary 
    may reasonably require.

                           (2) Peer review

        (A) The Secretary shall convene a panel of individuals for 
    purpose of reviewing and rating applications submitted under 
    paragraph (1).
        (B) Such individuals shall have experience with education 
    programs in civics, government, and the law.

                            (3) Priority

        In awarding grants or awarding contracts under this section, the 
    Secretary shall give priority consideration to applications which 
    propose the operation of statewide programs.

(d) Duration of grants and exception

                            (1) Duration

        Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall award 
    grants and contracts under this section for periods of two or three 
    years.

                            (2) Exception

        The Secretary may award a grant or a contract under this section 
    for a period of less than 2 years if the Secretary determines that 
    special circumstances exist which warrant a 1-year grant or contract 
    award.

(Pub. L. 89-10, title X, Sec. 10602, as added Pub. L. 103-382, title I, 
Sec. 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3839.)

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 8143 of this title.
