Editor's note: A list of the grant recipients follows.

Some 129 grants totaling more than $118 million have been awarded to school districts in 40 states to improve the quality of American history education, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced today.

"More than ever, this is the time to celebrate the founding principles of our great democracy and the men and women who made our freedom possible, as well as those who have fought and continue to fight for that freedom," Secretary Spellings said. "These Teaching American History grants will deepen teachers' knowledge and, in turn, give students a greater understanding of and appreciation for our rich history. Students who are well-grounded in history are more likely to become active, informed participants in our democratic society."

The Teaching American History discretionary grant program supports three-year projects to improve teachers' appreciation for and knowledge of American history through intensive, on-going professional development. Projects must be in partnership with organizations that have extensive knowledge of American history, including libraries, museums, nonprofit history or humanities organizations and higher education institutions.

History is one of the core academic subjects under the landmark No Child Left Behind Act; however, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, which is commonly known as the "Nation's Report Card," shows that less than one-quarter of America's students in grades 4, 8 and 12 are proficient in American history. The U.S. Department of Education has seen that students perform better if their teachers have in-depth knowledge of the subjects they teach. Through the Teaching American History grant program, history teachers will be immersed in American history content in order to more effectively teach their students.

More information about Teaching American History grants is available at: http://www.ed.gov/programs/teachinghistory/index.html.

The No Child Left Behind Act is the bipartisan landmark education reform law designed to change the culture of America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility to states, giving parents more information and options and teaching students based on what works. Under the law's strong accountability provisions, states must describe how they will close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including those with disabilities, achieve academically.

Teaching American History Grants
2005

AK—Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, $499,963
AL—Madison County Board of Education, $999,940
CA—Clovis Unified School District, $1,782,741
CA—Glendale Unified School District, $1,000,000
CA—Glenn County Office of Education, $999,997
CA—Los Angeles County Office of Education, $1,359,344
CA—Napa Valley Unified School District, $999,916
CA—Northern Humboldt Union High School District, $974,433
CA—Pasadena Unified School District, $969,555
CA—Placer County Office of Education, $1,000,000
CA—Riverside Unified School District, $871,137
CA—San Francisco Unified School District, $999,758
CA—San Juan Unified School District, $990,607
CA—Santa Anna Unified School District, $999,967
CA—Wiseburn School District, $499,964
CO—Southeastern BOCES, $499,956
CT—Area Cooperative Educational Services, $906,293
CT—Hartford Public Schools, $920,716
CT—Newington Public Schools, $957,960
CT—Stratford Public Schools, $982,395
DE—Colonial School District, $991,113
FL—Brevard Public Schools-Public School System, $827,147
FL—School Board of Pinellas County, Florida, $990,329
FL—School Board of Broward County, $992,406
GA—Clayton County Public Schools, $999,998
GA—Coastal Plains RESA, $989,271
GA—Henry County Schools-Henry County Board of Education, $999,622
GA—Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, $1,000,000
IA—Dubuque Community School District, $499,925
IL—Homewood-Flossmoor Community H.S. District #233, $967,900
IL—Regional Office of Education #26, $581,019
IL—Urbana School District #116, $991,750
IL—Woodstock Community Unit School District, $999,945
IN—Madison Consolidated Schools, $499,980
KS—Olathe District Schools #233, $661,650
KS—USD #208-WaKeeney School District, $999,879
KY—Ballard County Board of Education, $1,000,000
LA—Caddo Public Schools, $999,925
LA—Lafayette Parish School System, $999,943
LA—Lafourche Parish School Board, $809,944
MA—Beverly Public Schools, $999,052
MA—Fall River Public Schools, $984,841
MA—Hampshire Educational Collaborative, $995,000
MA—Public Schools of Brookline, $999,828
MA—The Education Cooperative, $798,175
MA—Westfield Public Schools, $999,650
MA—Worcester Public Schools, $999,908
MD—Baltimore County Public Schools, $994,334
ME—Gorham Public Schools, $880,580
MI—Flint Community Schools, $499,999
MI—Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency, $992,696
MI—Lansing School District, $999,996
MI—Muskegon Area Intermediate Schools, $886,130
MN—Saint Paul Public Schools-ISD 625, $835,147
MO—Crane, Missouri R-III School District, $968,283
MO—East Newton R-VI Schools, $998,469
MO—Jackson RII Schools, $971,475
MO—Parkway School District, $889,883
MO—St. Louis Public Schools, $619,749
MT—Shelby Public Schools, $499,996
MT—Twin Bridges Public Schools, $999,987
NC—Caldwell County Schools, $500,000
NC—Carter G. Woodson State Charter School of Challenge, $1,903,880
NE—Omaha Public Schools, $976,818
NJ—Delsea Regional High School District, $999,825
NJ—Ewing Township School District, $938,462
NJ—Jersey City Public Schools, $998,882
NJ—Lakewood Public School District, $998,641
NJ—Milburn Township Public Schools, $938,462
NJ—Paterson Public Schools, $999,948
NJ—Pennsville School District, $497,945
NJ—Trenton Board of Education, $999,390
NJ—West Morris Regional High School District, $499,000
NM—Taos Municipal Schools, $976,278
NV—Washoe County School District, $955,283
NY—Community School District 13, $452,657
NY—Community School District 2, NYC Dept of Education Region 9, $925,901
NY—Community School District 4, $997,455
NY—Community School District 7, NYC Dept of Ed, Region 9, $904,180
NY—District 29/Region 3, NYC Dept of Ed, $985,215
NY—District 9-DOE New York City, $990,614
NY—Dutchess County Board of Cooperative Educational Services, $999,522
NY—New York City Dept. of Education, $984,000
NY—New York City Dept. of Education, $978,881
NY—NYC Dept of Education Regional Instruction Center 10, $999,999
NY—NYC Public School District DOE, Community School District 28 (Region 3), $983,980
OH—Akron Board of Education, $990,505
OH—Alternative Education Academy, $484,443
OH—Euclid City School District, $998,488
OH—Fairfield City Schools, $995,093
OH—Perry Hocking Educational Service Center, $993,095
OK—Byng Public School, $499,846
OK—Latta Public School, $499,959
OK—Morrison Public School 52-1006, $500,000
OR—High Desert Education Service District, $999,801
OR—Multnomah Educational Service District, $1,999,949
OR—Portland Public School District #1J, $999,915
PA—Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, $1,230,178
PA—Ridley School District, $458,582
PA—School District of Philadelphia, $1,000,000
PA—School District of the City of Erie, $499,734
RI—East Providence School Department, $566,779
TN—Johnson City Schools, $993,684
TX—Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, $994,487
TX—Education Service Center, Region XIII-Center for Teaching and Learning, $1,139,250
TX—Houston Independent School District, $984,899
TX—Region 10 Education Service Center, $1,519,771
TX—Region 16 Education Service Center, $930,825
TX—Region 5 Education Service Center, $999,753
TX—San Antonio ISD, $1,000,000
TX—Kennedy Independent School District, $500,000
UT—Alpine School District, $999,564
UT—Logan City School District, $999,974
UT—Ute Indian Tribe Education Department/LEA, $499,628
VA—Fairfax County Public Schools-Department of Instructional Services, $999,206
VA—Hampton City Schools, $997,276
VA—Loudoun County Public Schools, $999,440
VA—Northampton County Public Schools, $496,663
VA—Roanoke City Schools, $993,060
VA—Stafford County Public Schools, $999,982
VA—Virginia Beach City Public Schools, $990,940
WA—Educational Service District 101, $997,993
WA—Educational Service District 112, $999,686
WA—Thorp School District #400, $998,781
WI—CESA 10 (#9910), $1,522,596
WI—School District of La Crosse, $999,118
WV—Regional Educational Service Agency, $999,147
WV—Upshur County Schools, $498,142
WY—Teton County School District #1, $499,850

###

Top

Back to November 2005