The Every Student is a Citizen Act expands how schools teach American history and civics to help students become engaged citizens. Right now, schools can teach civics, but this bill significantly broadens what that can include and dedicates $40 million per year in federal funding to support these expanded activities.

Instead of just learning about government in a textbook, students would have opportunities to participate in hands-on activities like mock elections, model congresses, and other simulated democratic processes. They'd learn about the Constitution and Bill of Rights, explore how different groups of Americans have fought for greater participation in democracy throughout history, and engage in service learning projects connected to what they're studying in class. The bill also encourages schools to organize trips to the nation's capital, state capitals, or local government buildings and historical sites.

The bill recognizes that civics education should be practical and relevant to students' lives. It includes activities like meeting with elected officials and community organizations to understand local challenges, participating in school governance and student journalism, learning media literacy to critically evaluate news and social media, and practicing respectful debate across different viewpoints. Schools can also support voter registration and use online games and videos as learning tools. Essentially, this bill gives schools more tools and funding to help young people understand how democracy works and how they can participate in it.