American History and Civics National Activities - 84.422B

The American History and Civics Education – National Activities program is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education. It is authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and is designed to strengthen the quality of instruction in American history, civics, government, and geography. The program is positioned as a national initiative that supports innovation in education, particularly in alignment with the broader goal of enhancing civic knowledge and engagement during a period of national significance, including the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. The funding opportunity reflects a federal priority to promote informed citizenship, historical understanding, and instructional excellence. The primary purpose of the program is to support the development, implementation, expansion, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence-based and innovative approaches to teaching American history and civics-related subjects. Projects funded under this program are expected to demonstrate the potential to improve both teaching quality and student achievement, particularly in elementary and secondary education settings. Emphasis is placed on serving underserved populations, including students from low-income backgrounds, and ensuring that instructional strategies are grounded in research and best practices. Applicants are encouraged to form partnerships with local and state educational agencies and other eligible entities to strengthen program design and delivery. Funding under this program is provided through discretionary grants, with an estimated total funding pool of approximately 19.8 million dollars. Individual awards are expected to range between 500,000 and 1,000,000 dollars per year, with an average award size of 650,000 dollars. The project period can extend up to 36 months, with the possibility of a renewal period of up to an additional 24 months based on performance and funding availability. There is no requirement for cost sharing or matching, and administrative costs must be reasonable and necessary in accordance with federal cost principles. Funds must supplement, not supplant, existing non-federal funding sources. Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit organizations that demonstrate expertise in developing evidence-based educational approaches. Applicants may also form consortia, provided they comply with federal regulations governing group applications. While subgrants to carry out project activities are not permitted, strong collaboration among partners is strongly encouraged. Applicants must demonstrate capacity for data collection, performance measurement, and evaluation aligned with program goals. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes multiple components such as standard federal forms, a project narrative, budget narrative, and supporting documentation. Applicants must maintain active registration in SAM.gov and Grants.gov and provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier. The project narrative must address selection criteria including project design, significance, management plan, resource adequacy, and evaluation strategy. Applications are scored on a 100-point scale, with additional points available for addressing competitive preference priorities such as promoting patriotic education or state-led initiatives. Applications for this funding opportunity open on May 26, 2026, and close on July 13, 2026. Intergovernmental review deadlines extend to September 21, 2026. Awards are expected to support projects beginning in October 2026, with annual performance reporting required. Evaluation criteria emphasize measurable outcomes, evidence-based practices, and scalability. Program performance is assessed through participant learning gains in history and civics knowledge. For additional information, applicants may contact program officials via email or phone as listed in the announcement. Technical assistance webinars are expected shortly after the notice publication. Overall, the program represents a significant federal investment in strengthening civic education and advancing innovative instructional practices nationwide.

Align project with evidence based practices; clearly address selection criteria; demonstrate measurable outcomes; ensure strong evaluation plan