American History and Civics Academies

Program Purpose

The Academies Program supports 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, civics, and government education (Presidential Academies); and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics that provide high school students opportunities to enrich their understanding of these subjects (Congressional Academies).

What's New

Announcing the FY 2023 American History and Civics - Academies Grantees

The U.S. Department of Education is pleased to announce that it has made 4 new FY 2023 American History and Civics Academies awards. These awards have been made in response to applications submitted under the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the American History and Civics — Academies Grantees program published in the Federal Register on April 28, 2023. To learn more about these new grant awards, please visit the Awards page for more details.

An institution of higher education, or nonprofit educational organization, museum, library, or research center with demonstrated expertise in historical methodology or the teaching of American history and civics; or a consortium of these entities.

In its application, an applicant is required to submit documentation of its organization's demonstrated expertise in historical methodology or the teaching of American history or civics.

Note: Consortium applicants must follow the procedures for group applications described in 34 CFR 75.127 through 34 CFR 75.129.

Note: If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing: (1) proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant's certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item described above if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.

Website Updates

April 28, 2023

• Initial information published on webpages to show competition publication

May 1, 2023

• Updated email address to AmericanHistoryandCivics@Ed.gov
• Updated the application instructions with a version that includes the links to the EED budget worksheet

May 22, 2023

• Added links to the pre-application webinar recording and webinar slides.

June 1, 2023

• Corrected an error in the application instructions that previously suggested a 40-page limit to the project narrative. The correct suggested project narrative page limit is 50 pages.
• Uploaded optional checklist (Appendix G)

June 7, 2023

• Updated Application Instructions to include ED Grant Application Form for Project Objectives and Performance Measures Information - 1894-0017

FY 2023 AHC-A Notice Inviting Applications

Posted in the Federal Register on April 28, 2023

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Applicant Information

The Effective Educator Development Programs Division is excited to announce that on April 28, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education published in the Federal Register a Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the American History and Civics Education (AHC-A) grant program. This AHC-A FY 2023 grant competition has an estimated $3 million and anticipates making approximately 3-5 new awards. Please refer to the posting on the Federal Register for the full text of the FY 2023 AHC-A Notice Inviting Applications (NIA). The FY 2023 AHC-A grant competition will close on July 12, 2023.

Download the AHC Academies Competition Flyer

Download the AHC Academies Competition Brochure

Grant Opportunity and Application Package (Grants.gov):

More information about this grant opportunity is located on Grants.gov at the following address: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=84.422a. The application instructions and required forms can be accessed and downloaded from this location.

FY 2023 AHC-A Competition Timeline

• AHC-A Application Publish Date: April 28, 2023
• Intent to Apply: May 29, 2023 (Email Intents to Apply to OESE.AmericanHistoryandCivics@ed.gov SUBJECT: Intent to Apply AHC-Academies FY 23)
• Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 12, 2023 (11:59:59 p.m. Washington, DC time)
• Estimated Award Announcement: Sept 30, 2023

Pre-Application Informational Webinar

On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, we hosted a pre-application webinar designed to provide technical assistance to prospective FY 2023 AHC-A Competition applicants.

If you were unable to attend the webinar, we have included links to both the video recording as well as presentation slides.

Video of Pre-Application Webinar

Pre-Application Webinar Presentation Slides

Electronic Applicant Submission

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Grants.gov system at http://www.grants.gov.

• Applicants are encouraged to download the AHC-A Application Instructions document and review it in its entirety. It contains information and instructions that will be helpful to you as you prepare to submit your AHC-A application.
• The AHC-A Application Instructions Package should be used as guidance only and applicants should always refer to the AHC-A NIA for official application instructions.
• Use the following link to download and review the AHC-A Application Instructions.

Required Application Forms

The following ED required forms are included in the electronic application package in Grants.gov. Below is a list of the required forms that must be completed and submitted at the time of application. Electronic versions of each form can be found at the following link: https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.

• ED Form 424 — Application for Federal Education Assistance (Form and Instructions)
• ED Grant Application Form for Project Objectives and Performance Measures Information — 1894-0017
• gov Lobbying Form
• Standard Form LLL — Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
• Required Response to Section 427 of GEPA
• EED Budget Narrative Template (see below)

Required AHC-A Program Forms

Required EED Applicant/Grantee Budget Worksheet - This EED Applicant/Grantee Budget Worksheet is REQUIRED and should be submitted in addition to the ED 524 Budget Form for the AHC-A program. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the document instructions as well as solicit help from their budget office when completing the worksheet. The worksheet must be submitted at the time of application. This budget worksheet must be completed and uploaded into the Budget Narrative Attachment section of your AHC-A application.

• Required EED Applicant/Grantee Budget Worksheet
• Required EED Applicant/Grantee Budget Worksheet Instructions

Optional AHC Program Form

Applicants are encouraged to use the AHC-A Checklist to assist them in completing the AHC application. The worksheet is optional and can be submitted at the time of application.

Optional AHC Application Checklist

Peer Review Panel Member Opportunity

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is seeking expert peer reviewers for the Fiscal Year 2023 competition for the American History-Academies (AHC-A) program. We invite individuals with backgrounds or expertise in American history, civics education, professional development and/or program evaluation to apply for consideration. If you are interested in serving as a peer reviewer for the FY 2023 AHC-A competition, please send an email to AmericanHistoryandCivics@ed.gov

Previous Competitions

To learn more about the previous competitions, please visit:

• 2021
• 2017
• 2016

Funding

Legislation

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title II, Part B, Subpart 3, Section 2232.