American History and Civics Education

The program supports two types of grants: American History and Civics Academies grants and National Activities grants. American History and Civics Academies grants support the establishment of: (1) Presidential Academies for the Teaching of American History and Civics that offer workshops for both veteran and new teachers to strengthen their knowledge of American history and civics (Presidential Academies); and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics that provide high school students with opportunities to develop a broader and deeper understanding of these subjects (Congressional Academies). National Activities grants promote new and existing evidence-based strategies to encourage innovative American history, civics and government, and geography instruction, learning strategies, and professional development activities and programs for teachers, principals, and other school leaders, particularly for low-income students and underserved populations.

Institutions of higher education and nonprofit educational organizations, museums, libraries, research centers with demonstrated expertise in historical methodology or the teaching of American history and civics are eligible to apply for Academies grants. Institutions of higher education and other nonprofit and for-profit organizations with demonstrated expertise in the development of evidence-based approaches with the potential to improve the quality of American history, civics and government, or geography learning and teaching are eligible to apply for National Activities grants.

The selection criteria for these programs are contained in Section 75.210 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). The specific criteria to be used for particular grant competitions are announced in the application package or application notice in the Federal Register. Contact the agency for more information.