This week, Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) re-introduced legislation that would establish the U.S. Public Service Academy, a civilian counterpart to the military academies.

The Academy would offer four years of tuition-free civilian education to train new generations of public service leaders, in exchange for five years of service in public institutions, meeting critical needs.

The Academy’s mission is “to educate, develop, and inspire civilian leaders who have the character, intellect, and experience necessary to serve the nation honorably and effectively, and who are committed to devoting their lives to public service.”

The curriculum as drafted emphasizes civics, history, economics, constitutional law, ethics, leadership, foreign language, and service, and includes an internship component.

Similar to the military academies like West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy, applicants would be nominated by their member of Congress and then compete for admission with other nominees from their own state (each state to have its own allocation of students). (Read more…)

The legislation has 37 co-sponsors, according to the U.S. Public Service Academy website. Read (and comment!) on the full bill, H.R. 2102.

This Huffington Post article by Grayce Cheng offers insight and analysis.

Check out my 2007 podcast interview with one of the founders of the U.S. Public Service Academy — Echoing Green Fellow and TFA Alum Chris Myers Asch, and other news about the Academy.

You can also follow news on the Academy’s blog and Twitter feed.

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