Posted Date: August 31, 2012
David A. Bergeron, Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education
Subject: Observation of Constitution Day in 2012
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, (Pub. L. 108-447) requires educational institutions that receive Federal funds to hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year. This provision applies to all educational institutions receiving funds from any Federal agency. See also the Department’s Federal Register Notice of the Implementation of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17 of Each Year, published on May 24, 2005, at http://www2.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2005-2/052405b.html.
In 2012, September 17 falls on a religious holiday (Rosh Hashanah). In accordance with the flexibility provided in the Federal Register notice, educational institutions receiving Federal funding from the Department may celebrate Constitution Day the preceding or following week.
Look for Federal government resources about the Constitution on the U.S. Department of Education’s FREE Web site at: http://www.free.ed.gov/searchres.cfm?q=U.S.+Constitution+Day. You may also access information about the Constitution on the National History Education Clearinghouse (NHEC) site at www.teachinghistory.org.