The U.S. Department of Education announced on September 29, 2025, the award of over $153 million in grants through the American History and Civics Education National Activities-Seminars program. The funding supports projects aimed at strengthening history and civics instruction in K-12 schools. The announcement coincides with preparations for the nation's Semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, in 2026.

Program Background and Legislative Basis

The American History and Civics Education National Activities program is authorized under Title IV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. The program includes two components: American History and Civics Academies grants and National Activities grants. The Seminars component, which received the $153 million allocation for fiscal year 2025, focuses on developing and disseminating resources for educators and students.

The program's purpose is to promote evidence-based strategies for innovative instruction in American history, civics, and geography. It supports activities such as seminars for teachers and students, development of curricular materials aligned with state standards, and events that encourage civil discourse on public issues related to American founding principles.

Prior to 2025, the program awarded grants in multiple years. In fiscal year 2017, the Department awarded $9.9 million to 12 grantees for seminars and institutes. In 2018, $10 million went to 12 projects. The 2019 cycle included a grant to the National Council for History Education for elementary and middle school teacher training. Funding levels varied, with the 2021 awards totaling $8.4 million for 12 grantees. The 2025 allocation represents an increase, described by the Department as a record investment.

The application notice for fiscal year 2025 was published in the Federal Register on June 23, 2025. Applications were due by July 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Eligible applicants included institutions of higher education (IHEs) with independent civics centers and nonprofit organizations with expertise in American history and civics education. Projects were required to demonstrate capacity to conduct seminars, develop resources, and align with state academic standards.

Details of the 2025 Grant Awards

The $153 million supports 85 awards, primarily to IHEs and nonprofits. Grants fund expert-led seminars, classroom-ready instructional materials, state-aligned curricula, and community events. Specific activities include:

• Seminars based on primary documents, constitutional studies, historical field experiences, and American achievements.
• Development of open-access toolkits, such as recorded seminar content, instructional strategy briefs, and student engagement projects.
• Resources grounded in founding texts and constitutional principles.
• Events fostering civil discourse on issues tied to foundational American principles.

Awards range in size, with projects lasting up to 60 months. Grantees must supplement federal funds with non-federal resources and comply with requirements under the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). Administrative costs are limited to 8% of the total award.

The Department stated that the grants aim to educate and inspire youth toward informed citizenship. Under Secretary Nicholas Kent said, “These grants reflect the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to educate and inspire youth toward informed and patriotic citizenship in the lead-up to America’s 250th birthday. We are focused on restoring civics education and advancing a shared understanding of America's founding principles and rich history in schools across the Nation. To know this great country is to love and cherish it.”

Known Grantees and Projects

A full list of grantees is available on the Department's website at https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/grants-birth-grade-12/well-rounded-education-grants/american-history-and-civics-national-activities-grants. One documented award is to the School of Civics and Leadership at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (SCiLL). SCiLL received $511,249 for the "Summer Civics Institutes" project. The project will conduct seminars for K-12 educators and students, focusing on constitutional principles and civil discourse.

Other reports indicate awards to over 50 universities and civics centers. Examples of planned uses include developing AI models of historical figures for interactive learning and providing workshops on civil discourse. Grantees are required to submit annual performance reports detailing progress on seminar delivery, resource dissemination, and participant outcomes.

Alignment with National Priorities

The grants align with the America 250 initiative, a nonpartisan effort to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The Semiquincentennial Commission, established by Congress in 2016, coordinates events nationwide. The Education Department's funding supports educational components, including K-12 programs to increase historical knowledge and civic engagement.

Nationally, civics education faces challenges. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2022 results showed that 13% of eighth graders scored at or above proficient in civics, down from 22% in 2018. History proficiency was 13%, also a decline. The grants address these trends by providing professional development for the estimated 3.2 million K-12 teachers.

The program is part of broader fiscal year 2025 investments. On September 15, 2025, the Department announced $160 million for similar civics initiatives and $500 million for charter schools. Total discretionary funding for well-rounded education grants, which include history and civics, is $1.3 billion.

Application and Implementation Requirements

The June 2025 Federal Register notice outlined priorities for applications, including projects that improve instruction for underserved students, incorporate evidence-based practices, and promote partnerships between IHEs and local education agencies. Competitive preference priorities awarded extra points for proposals addressing rural communities or integrating technology.

Grantees must conduct at least two seminars per year, targeting educators and students in grades 6-12. Resources developed must be freely available online and meet accessibility standards under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Evaluation plans are required, including metrics on participant knowledge gains and classroom implementation rates.

The program's assistance listing number is 84.422C. For fiscal year 2025, the estimated number of awards was 80-90, with average award sizes of $1.5 million to $2 million.

Broader Context in K-12 Education

The grants target K-12 instruction, where history and civics are core subjects under state standards. In California, for example, the history-social science framework emphasizes constitutional government and civic participation. The funded resources will align with such frameworks, supporting the 5.8 million students in the state's public schools.

Nationwide, 47 states require a civics test for high school graduation, often based on the U.S. Citizenship and Civics Test. The seminars aim to enhance preparation for these assessments through primary source analysis and debate skills.

Implementation begins in fiscal year 2025, with funds available through September 30, 2029, for multi-year projects. Grantees report to the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE).

At Legacy Haven Academy, these developments are being monitored. No changes to curriculum or programs will be implemented until the grants' outcomes have been evaluated.