The PLEDGE Act, introduced by Florida Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, would require American flags in Washington, D.C. public school classrooms and give students the daily opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The proposal frames this as a corrective to what supporters call an overemphasis on activism and progressive ideology in D.C. schools, arguing patriotic instruction should be restored to the capital’s classrooms.
Senator Ashley Moody unveiled the PLEDGE Act to target the District’s public school practices, pushing for visible flags in classrooms and time each day for the Pledge. The bill is pitched as a straightforward move to ensure students are exposed to national symbols and civic rituals that many Americans take for granted. Supporters stress it is about identity and continuity rather than micromanaging curriculum details.
“Currently, there are schools in Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital, that do not display our flag or set aside time for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, but they do teach them to be activists,” the bill’s backers wrote in a press release. That line is being used to argue that local priorities have shifted away from traditional civic education. The PLEDGE Act is meant to force a return to basics in a district that national conservatives say has drifted.
Conservatives point to Pride displays and other progressive symbols across the city as evidence that patriotic imagery has been sidelined. They argue that showing the flag and allowing daily Pledge recitation are simple, noncontroversial ways to reinforce civic pride. For proponents, the move isn’t partisan choreography; it’s a statement that schools should cultivate allegiance to the republic first.
“Radicals want to teach kids to be ashamed of the United States of America and how to be activists instead. We should be teaching kids why America is worth loving, and most importantly, the principles and values that make America worth defending,” said Sen. Moody in the release. That line captures the bill’s rhetorical core: a pushback against what supporters call ideological instruction. The phrasing appeals directly to voters who value patriotism and national pride.
The PLEDGE Act arrives in a context where more than 40 states have some form of Pledge or flag requirement for schools, leaving the District of Columbia as one of the notable exceptions. Advocates say the bill corrects that anomaly and brings D.C. in line with common practice nationwide. They argue it sends a clear message that civic rituals matter for forming responsible citizens.
“My PLEDGE Act helps restore pride in our nation by reminding students every day of the freedom, responsibilities, and blessings that come with being an American, and the sacrifices made for our flag and everything it represents,” Moody said in a statement shared with reporters. That appeal to duty and sacrifice is meant to resonate with families who want children taught to honor national symbols. The language frames the proposal as restorative rather than punitive.
The bill also arrives amid rising local political battles in the District, where a progressive mayoral frontrunner has energized left-leaning voters and groups. Nationally, the Democratic Socialist of America’s growing profile fuels conservative concerns about schools adopting more activist-oriented lessons. Critics of those trends argue that replacing civic instruction with ideological training changes the purpose of public schooling.
Polling shows generational divides on national pride, with younger Americans expressing lower levels of fervor than their elders. A June 2025 Gallup poll found just 41% of Generation Z described themselves as extremely or very proud to be American, versus 58% of U.S. adults overall. Those numbers are cited by supporters who say restoring daily Pledge recitation can help reverse that trend over time.
Local curriculum choices in D.C. have drawn scrutiny from conservatives who point to instruction that highlights LGBTQ history and other progressive topics. For example, D.C. social studies standards for fifth grade include analyzing the rise of queer culture during the Black Renaissance and comparing the experiences of LGBTQ+ service members returning to the U.S. after World War II. Opponents argue those emphases belong in context, not as replacements for basic civic education.
Supporters of the PLEDGE Act also note recent federal-era moves that emphasized patriotic symbols in the capital, arguing those actions set a precedent for restoring common-sense displays of national identity. Washington has long been a stage for political demonstration and debate, and backers see the legislation as a way to tether schools to shared national values. READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION:
