Collins Says Troup County Schools
Will Receive Federal Education Grant

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 1) - Congressman Mac Collins (R-Georgia) announced Thursday that the Troup County Public School District will be receiving a grant from the U.S. Department of Education that will enhance the teaching of American history. The district will receive $1 million dollars over a period of three years.

   The funding is from the "Teaching American History Grant" program that is a discretionary "grant program" that is funded under the No Child Left Behind Act. The program's goal is to support projects that raise student achievement by improving teachers' knowledge, understanding and appreciation of American history.

   Grants are used to improve the quality of history instruction by supporting professional development for teachers of American history. In order to receive a grant, a school district must agree to carry out the proposed activities in partnership with entities that have extensive content expertise, such as: institutions of higher education, nonprofit history or humanities organizations, libraries, or museums. 

   Many grants support intensive summer seminars with U.S. history professors. Other common approaches include professional development delivered at important historical sites; ongoing training throughout the school year; and online support and instruction for teachers.

   "I am pleased that the Troup County school system is receiving this funding for the teaching of American history," said Collins. "Congress must continue to support our schools in the teaching of Civics and American history. At a time when we are asking young Americans to give their lives to defend our values, we must, now more than ever, teach and remind our children what those values are."






"American history and civics need to be taught in schools so our children can grow up learning what it means to be an American," Collins emphasized. "We cannot expect students to learn what it means to be an American if we don't teach them our history.
The best place to start is in the home by supporting parents and families, but we must also support and emphasize this heritage in our schools and support the efforts of our teachers."

"I want to thank our history teachers for their efforts and I pledge to work to support them in this important task of teaching our children," Collins concluded.