H.R. 1359 — Black History Matters Act

This section provides the short title of the Act as the “Black History Matters Act.”

This section directs the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to conduct a study on Black history education in public elementary and secondary schools, beginning not later than 180 days after enactment and completing not later than 3 years after enactment. As part of the study, the Director must identify States and local educational agencies that require or do not require Black history education, assess the quality of such education using qualitative and quantitative indicators, examine instructional materials, review the duration and comprehensiveness of related courses or lessons, and analyze how schools assess students’ knowledge of Black history, including traditional and nontraditional assessments. Following completion of the study, the Director must submit a report to Congress not later than 180 days after the study is completed. The section defines “Black history,” “Black history education,” and “project based learning,” and incorporates the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 definitions of “elementary school,” “local educational agency,” “secondary school,” and “State” under 20 U.S.C. § 7801.