PEACE Act of 2025
PEACE Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Summary of the PEACE Act of 2025 **What the bill would do:** The PEACE Act would restrict how federal funding can be used in schools' American history and civics education programs. Specifically, it would prohibit using federal education dollars for curricula or teaching methods that it defines as promoting "divisive concepts"—such as racial stereotyping or scapegoating. The bill references standards from a 2021 Department of Education proposal to define what counts as divisive. **Who it affects:** This bill would primarily impact schools, teachers, and students who receive federal education funding.
It could also affect textbook publishers and curriculum developers who create materials for history and civics classes, potentially limiting what educational approaches they can fund with federal dollars. **Current status:** As of now, the bill (S 227) is pending in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. It was introduced by Senator James Risch (R-ID). Like all bills at this stage, it would need committee approval and broader congressional support before it could become law.
CRS Official Summary
Protect Equality And Civics Education Act of 2025 or the PEACE Act of 2025This bill prohibits the use of federal funding made available for the American History and Civics Education program to fund a curriculum, teaching, or counseling that promotes a divisive concept (e.g., race stereotyping or scapegoating) under the priorities noticed in the Department of Education's proposed rule titled Proposed Priorities-American History and Civics Education, published on April 19, 2021.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.