Grantee: Warren County Schools, McMinnville, TN
Project Name: Cumberland River Valley Consortium
Project Director: Chad McGee (931) 474-3663
Funding: $936,452
Number of Teachers Served: 100
Number of School Districts Served: 6
Number of Students Served: No information available

As lead educational agency for a consortium of 64 schools, Warren County Schools is partnering with Middle Tennessee State University to increase content knowledge of American history teachers; expand use of primary resources and technology in instruction, and improve student achievement in American history. Training is provided to 100 teachers in grades 4, 5, 8-12 teachers on using model history curriculum kits and creating lessons that emphasize American history within the state curriculum. The project will develop a website and provide graduate and in-service credit for participants through seminars, lecture series, conferences, workshops and summer institutes addressing: Expansion and Reform 1801-1861; Modern America 1890-1930; Colonization and Settlement 1585-1763; Revolution and the New Nation 1754-1820; Civil War and Reconstruction 1850-1877; Industrial U.S. 1870-1900; The Depression and World War II 1929-1945; and Post-World War II 1945-1970s.

Grantee: Memphis City Schools, Memphis, TN
Project Name: Raising Student Achievement in American History in Low Performing Schools
Project Director: Ken Holland (901) 678-3320
Funding: $983,227
Number of Teachers Served: 80
Number of School Districts Served: 1
Number of Students Served: No information available

The district seeks to improve achievement of American history students in low-performing schools through professional development activities for elementary and secondary U.S. history teachers serving disadvantaged students. Following the National Council for History Education model, the curriculum addresses content and pedagogy through summer institutes and graduate course work and school-year workshops and colloquia. Historians work with teachers to translate themes/ideas into lessons; participants conduct research and write papers using primary sources; and 20 exemplary teacher-mentors assist participants. Project partners include the University of Memphis, Facing History and Ourselves, National Civil Rights Museum, and National Writing Board. Content for elementary teachers includes the Constitution, Civil War and Reconstruction, and civil rights movement. Subject matter for secondary teachers covers events within general themes of Membership in American Democracy; Ideas of Liberty and Justice in 19^th Century America; Challenges to Ideals of American Democracy; the Progressive Age; and Legacies: Preserving Democratic Ideals.