BGSU program awarded funds to support civic literacy

BOWLING GREEN — The Democracy and Public Policy Network at Bowling Green State University has received more than $620,000 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education to support education and outreach on American history and civics. Awarded on Sept. 29, the grant will help the network establish nonpartisan learning communities aimed at developing and strengthening American history and civics education among K-12 educators across the region over the next three years. Each cohort, consisting of 40 teachers, will participate in yearlong training sessions and receive insight from BGSU faculty to build learning communities in their districts. The program will culminate with a one-week summer seminar on campus to help teachers further develop lessons and skills. The initiative will assist Ohio teachers in developing lessons and classroom resources rooted in the nation's foundational principles. Teachers will also focus on America's founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, the anti-Federalist Papers, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In addition to training, BGSU faculty will provide opportunities for participating teachers and students to engage in the network's community conversations and events, both on campus and virtually. The Democracy and Public Policy Network will also conduct routine polls to gather public insight. Findings from these polls will be used to develop lessons and resources within the learning communities to further enhance civic literacy education, according to a release from BGSU.