American History and Civics Education National Activities-Seminar

Overview

Purpose of Program: The purpose of the AHC-Seminars program is to promote new and existing evidence-based strategies to encourage innovative American history, civics and government, and geography instruction.

Background: As the Semiquincentennial of the American experiment in self-government approaches, it provides an exceptional opportunity to reflect on the principles that have shaped the nation's foundation. This program will support seminars for educators or students in honor of the 250th anniversary of America's founding.

Priorities: This notice contains one absolute priority and one competitive preference priority. We are establishing these priorities for the FY 2025 grant competition in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition in accordance with section 437(d)(1) of the General Education Provisions Act.

Absolute Priority: For FY 2025 in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. This priority is: Seminars for educators or students on American History and Civics in honor of the Semiquincentennial of the United States of America.

Applicants must design and implement innovative or new and existing evidence-based approaches to seminars for educators or students specifically focused on American history and civics that directly commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Seminars must study the American political tradition (ideas, traditions, institutions, and texts essential to American constitutional government and the American heritage) with a focus on the first principles of the Founding, their inclusion in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and their development over time.

Competitive Preference Priority: Civic Institutes at Institutions of Higher Education.

Priority will be given to applicants from institutions of higher education that have established independent academic units dedicated to civic thought, constitutional studies, American history, leadership, and economic liberty. These institutes should demonstrate a sustained commitment to robust civil discourse, the liberal arts, and the study of American history and politics through primary documents.

Program Requirements: For FY 2025 in which we make awards from the list of unfunded applications, the following program requirements apply: A grantee must operate a project for the purposes of expanding, developing, implementing, evaluating, and disseminating for voluntary use, innovative, evidence-based approaches or professional development programs in American history, civics and government, and geography, which shall:

(a) Demonstrate the potential to improve the quality of student achievement in, and teaching of, American history, civics and government, or geography, in elementary and secondary schools; and

(b) Demonstrate innovation, scalability, accountability, and a focus on underserved populations.

Note: An applicant may consider how to meet these requirements by (a) the pre- and post-assessment of participants, and (b) how participants will share their knowledge from attendance at the seminars with elementary and secondary schools.

Deadlines: Notices of Intent to Apply are strongly encouraged and due July 8, 2025. Applications are due July 23, 2025.
Estimated Range of Awards: $500,000–$1,000,000 per year. 
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $650,000 per year. 
Maximum Award: We will not make an award exceeding $1,000,000 to any applicant per 12-month budget period. The Department plans to fully fund awards made under this notice with FY 2025 funds.
Estimated Number of Awards: 5–10. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 36 months.