American History and Civics Education

American History and Civics Academies: National Activities Grants
CFDA 84.422 Active Project Grants (Discretionary)
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$23M FY2025
$1.8M
FY16
$3.5M
FY17
$3.5M
FY18
$4.8M
FY19
$4.8M
FY20
$5.3M
FY21
$7.8M
FY22
$23M
FY23
$23M
FY24*
$23M
FY25*
* estimated

Who has received this funding

Organizations awarded under CFDA 84.422 (USAspending.gov).

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2024 Funded 37 projects.

Program Objective

The program supports two types of grants: American History and Civics Academies grants and National Activities grants.
American History and Civics Academies grants support the establishment of: (1) Presidential Academies for the Teaching of American History and Civics that offer workshops for both veteran and new teachers to strengthen their knowledge of American history and civics (Presidential Academies); and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics that provide high school students with opportunities to develop a broader and deeper understanding of these subjects (Congressional Academies).
National Activities grants promote new and existing evidence-based strategies to encourage innovative American history, civics and government, and geography instruction, learning strategies, and professional development activities and programs for teachers, principals, and other school leaders, particularly for low-income students and underserved populations.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Public nonprofits

Institutions of higher education and nonprofit educational organizations, museums, libraries, research centers with demonstrated expertise in historical methodology or the teaching of American history and civics are eligible to apply for Academies grants. Institutions of higher education and other nonprofit and for-profit organizations with demonstrated expertise in the development of evidence-based approaches with the potential to improve the quality of American history, civics and government, or geography learning and teaching are eligible to apply for National Activities grants.

Beneficiaries

  • 22
  • 23

Students and their teachers benefit.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

Awards are competitively selected following review by nonfederal experts in accordance with Subpart D of Part 75 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).

Approximately 120 days.

Program details & compliance

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

American History and Civics Academies funds are to be used to provide intensive workshops for teachers and students. Funds must be used to provide stipends to participants and may be used for a range of other activities including providing salaries for project staff including project directors, evaluators, core teachers and support staff, as well as rental expenses at the academy sites. Funds may not be used for construction. Competitions are announced in the Federal Register. Specific limitations and restrictions for each competition are provided in the Federal Register notice.

National Activities funds must be used to develop, implement, expand, evaluate, and disseminate for voluntary use, innovative, evidence-based approaches or professional development programs in American history, civics and government, and geography that: (i) show potential to improve the quality of student achievement in, and teaching of, American history, civics and government, or geography, in elementary schools and secondary schools; and (ii) demonstrate innovation, scalability, accountability, and a focus on underserved populations. Funds may be used for: (i) hands-on civic engagement activities for teachers and students; and (ii ) programs that educate students about the history and principles of the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights.

Funds may not be used for construction. Funds are subject to supplement, not supplant provisions. Competitions are announced in the Federal Register. Specific limitations and restrictions for each competition are provided in the Federal Register notice.

Required Documentation

OMB Circular No. A21; OMB Circular No. A-122

Matching Requirements

A grantee must provide for project activities an amount from non-Federal sources equal to 100 percent of the grant amount.

Reporting & Compliance

Audit Required
Yes

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Orman Feres
(202) 453-6921
Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW,, Washington, DC 20202-5960
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2024-11-15. Spec v1.0. Last synced: 2026-06-01 05:55:02.