Ashland University receives grant from US Department of Education for K-12 civics education improvements

Ashland University has received a $1.3 million grant from the US Department of Education in support of the Freedom for the Next 250: Strengthening American History and Civics Education project. The effort will help enhance civics education for K-12 students through providing educators with resources for classrooms and giving them the opportunity to increase their own civics knowledge via free seminars.

According to an article on Ashland University’s website, university president Dr. Jon Parrish Peede was quoted as saying of the grant award, “We are thrilled that the Department of Education has awarded this generous grant. This grant cycle was extremely competitive, thus it demonstrates great faith in the potential impact for this project. Data shows there has been a steady decline in civics education in our country, but the approach of reading primary documents and digging deep into American history and government has produced great results for teachers and students.”

The Freedom for the Next 250: Strengthening American History and Civics Education project has been designed to enhance civics education ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary coming in 2026. The grant will run through September 2028 and will provide seminars for 1,200 K-12 educators, with an expected 6,000 more receiving much of the information through their peers. The grant will fund both single-day seminars and multi-day seminars. Single seminars will take place at local K-12 school districts, and the multi-day seminars will take place at sites of historical significance, such as Independence Hall and Valley Forge.

By taking part in the seminars, K-12 teachers will learn more widely and deeply about the founding of the country and its founding documents. They will then pass on this new level of understanding to their students through classroom learning.

Jeff Sikkenga, Ph.D., who serves as the executive director of the Ashbrook Center, said, “If we are going to continue as a flourishing republic for another 250 years, it is crucial to equip teachers with the knowledge and confidence they need to help the next generation to understand the history and principles of America. Civic education is not just another subject in school. It is the foundation of a free society.”

For more information about Ashland University, visit the school’s website.