U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today announced $49.6 million in grants to 60 local school districts under the Teaching American History Program. The new grants will support programs designed to raise student achievement by improving the quality of teaching by strengthening teachers' knowledge, understanding and appreciation of American history.

"From the Mayflower Compact to the Articles of Confederation to the civil rights marches of the 1960s, American history is alive with stories of discovery, bravery and ideas about how we live," Paige said. "The Teaching American History grants will help teachers share the ideas and events that shaped our nation with more children, deepening their understanding of the complexity and variety of American history."

Students who know and appreciate the great ideas of American history will be well prepared to understand and exercise their civic rights and responsibilities, Paige said. Their understanding of traditional American history will be enhanced if teachers make the study of history more exciting, interesting and engaging, he noted. The awards will help school districts, in partnership with content experts, to design, implement and demonstrate professional development programs that use evidence-based methods.

The organizations that will partner with school districts include:

• Institutions of higher education;
• Non-profit history or humanities organizations;
• Libraries or museums.

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