|
The Pasadena Independent School District has been
awarded a three-year federal $949,434 Teaching American History grant
designed to raise student achievement by providing teachers with
in-depth, professional development in American history.
This year, the Teaching American History program will award 121 new
grants worth $114.7 million to schools districts in 40 states
nationwide.
Fifty-three percent of students who attend Pasadena Independent School
District are limited English proficient or bilingual and, therefore,
have limited or no generational knowledge of American history. To remedy
the knowledge gap, the "From Kings to Presidents" project will provide
quality American history content and intense training that improves
teacher instruction. Through collaboration with various organizations
and Texas A&M University, 170 teachers will receive interactive, high
quality American history content training.
The Teaching American History grant program is designed to improve
student achievement by enhancing teachers' knowledge of traditional
American history through intensive ongoing professional development in
both content and research-based teaching strategies. Grants fund
projects for up to five years, and grantees must partner with one or
more organizations that have extensive knowledge of American history,
including libraries, museums, nonprofit history or humanities
organizations and higher education institutions.
History is one of the core academic subjects under the No Child Left
Behind Act. The most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress
(NAEP), commonly known as the "Nation's Report Card," shows some overall
improvement in history performance at all three grade levels, however,
less than one-quarter of America's students in grades 4, 8 and 12 are
performing at the highest, or proficient level, in American history.
More information about the Teaching American History Grant program is
available at:
http://www.ed.gov/programs/teachinghistory/index.html. |