Duval County Public Schools Receives Part of $115.3 million
Teaching American History Grant
Jacksonville, FL – Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) was announced as one of seven districts in the state to be awarded the Teaching American History Grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the award of $115.3 million to 124 school districts to improve the quality of teaching American
History in our nation's schools. Duval County received the highest grant amount in Florida, $999,998, which will be funded over a three-year period. This is the second time the district has been awarded the grant; the first time was in 2006.
“We are extremely excited about receiving this grant award because it will allow the district to continue the important professional development opportunities for our history teachers that began with the first round of funding in 2006,” said Kathy LeRoy, DCPS’ Chief Officer of Academic Services. “We will continue to use these grant funds to make American History a more exciting and engaging learning experience for all of our students.”
The Teaching American History Grant program aims to enhance teachers' understanding of American history through intensive professional development, including study trips to historic sites and mentoring with professional historians and other experts. Projects are required to partner with organizations that have broad knowledge of American history, such as libraries, museums, nonprofit historical or humanities organizations, and higher education institutions. History is one of the core academic subjects under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
“The Teaching American History Grant has fundamentally changed my life and the way I view history,” said Lorraine Morris, a teacher at Sandalwood High School and participant in the grant. “Since becoming a participant, not only have I increased my love of history, but I have transmitted that love of learning and enthusiasm to my students.”
The other Florida districts that received the award were Broward, Lee, Monroe, Marion, Osceola and Palm Beach.
Duval County Public Schools, the nation's 21st largest school district, operates 166 schools and serves approximately 123,000 students. The school district is committed to providing high quality educational opportunities that will inspire all students to acquire and use the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a global economy, and culturally diverse world.
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