Social Studies

Resource: A Heads-Up on American History Grant Process

By Mary Ann Zehr — December 01, 2009 1 min read
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The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is telling school district officials they should be poised to apply for grants to support the teaching of American history in their schools. “Get a jumpstart on your [Teaching American History] grant before the 2010 deadline is announced,” says a press release that I received today.

The federal discretionary grant program, authorized under the No Child Left Behind Act, aims to support the teaching of American history as a separate academic subject through professional development for teachers.

The U.S. Department of Education usually announces the deadline for the grants in the fall, according to the institute. Well, since today is Dec. 1, fall is quickly running out. Anyway, the institute is suggesting that districts should start preparing their applications before the announcement is made that additional awards are being given out.

Of course, the institute is highlighting the grants competition because it has been a partner with school districts for the American history grants in the past and would like to cooperate with them in the next round.

The institute provides seminars in the summer for teachers on specific topics in American history, as well as other educational opportunities. Do you need to refresh your knowledge about the Salem witchcraft trials or what happened during the first 100 days of the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt? The institute has posted free podcasts on those subjects.

A version of this news article first appeared in the Curriculum Matters blog.