Washington, DC (July 19, 2007) – Today, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded the Region One Education Service Center in Edinburg a $1,999,999 grant for three years to improve the quality of American history education. The grant is one of 122 new grants awarded to school districts in 40 states nationwide.

“Students require a strong foundation in American history so that they can become informed, contributing members of our nation’s great democracy,” said Hinojosa.  “This grant allows for the improvement of the quality of American history education in our schools, which will aid in reaching this important goal.”

The Teaching American History grant program supports three-year projects to improve teachers’ knowledge of traditional American history through intensive, on-going professional development.  Grantees must work in partnership 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 landmark No Child Left Behind Act; however the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is commonly known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” shows that less than one-quarter of America’s students in grades 4, 8, and 12 are proficient in American history.  To improve student achievement, the Teaching American History grant program will immerse history teachers in American history content and research-based teaching strategies, to help them teach in an exciting and engaging way.