American History and Civics-National Activities Grants

American History and Civics Education—National Activities supports programs that promote innovative instruction, learning strategies, and Professional development in American history, civics and government and Geography, with an emphasis on activities and programs that benefit Low-income students and underserved populations.

As the Semiquincentennial of the American experiment in self-government approaches, it provides an exceptional opportunity to reflect on the principles that have shaped the nation's foundation. This program will support seminars for educators or students in honor of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.

What's New

Announcing the FY 2025 American History and Civics - Academies Grantees

The U.S. Department of Education is pleased to announce that it has made 85 new FY 2025 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 – Seminars program published in the Federal Register on June 18, 2025.

To learn more about these new grant awards, please visit the Awards tab for more details.

Program Description

Aligned with the Trump Administration’s focus on excellence and opportunity, the purpose of the AHC-Seminars program is to promote new and existing evidence-based strategies to encourage innovative American history, civics and government, and geography instruction.

The success of the American experiment in self-government requires the cultivation of both citizen competency and informed patriotism among the American People. Citizens must understand why our free-market democracy is a highly evolved system of cooperation made robust by our constitutional republic, and how it functions to secure the blessings of liberty for all Americans. This understanding can only be acquired and prove to be lasting when rooted in a recognition of the nobility of America’s foundational principles, and an accurate and honest account of American history that shows how the United States has worked through profound challenges to its ideals, including the evils of slavery and segregation, in its ongoing battle to live up to them.    

The upcoming Semiquincentennial of America’s founding is more than a commemorative milestone—it is a call to reinvest in the education and cultivation of a citizenry capable of sustaining the American experiment in self-government. By supporting seminars that encourage a deeper understanding of our constitutional republic, this new program aims to equip educators or students with the knowledge and character needed to uphold the freedoms we enjoy. Through an honest engagement with our history and an appreciation of the institutions that make our civil society flourish, we can prepare the next generation to carry forward the principles of liberty, limited government, and dedication to the doctrine of equality that define our nation.

FY 2025 AHC-NA Notice Inviting Applications

Posted in the Federal Register on June 23, 2025.

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Applicant Information

The Effective Educator Development Programs Division is excited to announce that on June 23, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education published in the Federal Register a Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for the American History and Civics Education – Seminars (AHC-Seminars) grant program. This AHC-Seminars FY 2025 grant competition has an estimated $14.2 million and anticipates making approximately 7-10 new awards. Please refer to the posting on the Federal Register for the full text of the FY 2025 AHC-Seminars Notice Inviting Applications (NIA). The FY 2025 AHC-Seminars grant competition will close on July 23, 2025.

FY 2025 AHC-NA Competition Timeline

• AHC-NA Application Publish Date: June 23, 2025
• Intent to Apply: July 8, 2025 (Email Intents to Apply to OESE.AmericanHistoryandCivics@ed.gov with the subject line “Intent to Apply,” and include the applicant's name and a contact person's name and email address.
• Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 23, 2025 (11:59:59 p.m. Washington, DC time)
• Estimated Award Announcement: No later than Sept 30, 2025

Pre-Application Informational Webinar 

On Monday, June 30, 2025, the Department hosted a pre-application webinar intended to provide technical assistance to prospective FY 2025 AHC-Seminars Competition applicants. Use the following links to access the webinar recording and a copy of the webinar slides.

View the FY 2025 AHC-Seminars Pre-Application Webinar Recording

Download the FY 2025 AHC-Seminars Pre-Application Webinar Slides

Grant Opportunity and Application Package (Grants.gov):

The application instructions and required forms for this grant competition can be accessed and downloaded from the competition page at Grants.gov.  Visit Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov and search for grants using Funding Opportunity Number: ED-GRANTS-062325-001. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Grants.gov system at http://www.grants.gov.

• Applicants are encouraged to download the AHC-Seminars 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-Seminars Application Instructions should be used as guidance only and applicants should always refer to the AHC-Seminars NIA for official 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 SF 424 Supplement
• ED Grant Application Form for Project Objectives and Performance Measures Information – 1894-0017
• Grants.gov Lobbying Form
• Standard Form LLL–Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
• Required Response to Section 427 of GEPA
• EED Budget Narrative Template (see below)
• Project Narrative Form
• ED Abstract Form
• Other Attachments Form 

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

Shortly after the webinar has concluded, a link to the recording will be published here.  

Peer Review Panel Member Opportunity 

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is seeking expert peer reviewers for the Fiscal Year 2025 competition for the American History-Seminars (AHC-Seminars) 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 2025 AHC-Seminars competition, please send an email to OESE.AmericanHistoryandCivics@ed.gov

An institution of higher education or other nonprofit or for-profit organization 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.

Note:  If multiple eligible entities wish to form a consortium and jointly submit a single application, they 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.

Funding

Legislation

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title II, Part B, Subpart 3, Section 2233.