Program Description
The Teaching American History (TAH) grant program is a discretionary grant competition funded under Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The largest single source of federal funding for history education in the U.S., the goal of TAH is to support projects that raise student achievement by improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American history. The program provides competitive awards to local educational agencies, and requires that LEAs agree to carry out the proposed activities “in partnership with one or more of the following: institutions of higher education, nonprofit history or humanities organizations, libraries, or museums.” TAH is administered by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement.
Action Needed
We urge Congress to provide no less than $46 million in FY 2012 funding for the Teaching American History grants Program within the Department of Education, the FY 2011 enacted level, and the amount approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
FY 2011 Funding Status: $46 million [Enacted April 15, 2011]
Following enactment of the FY 2011 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 1473) on April 15, 2011, the U.S. Department of Education decided to reduce the Teaching American History grants program by $73.04 million (61.4%) from the FY 2010 enacted level of $118.95 million. This reduction results in an FY11 appropriation of $45.91 million for Teaching American History (TAH) grants.
[Bill Text: P.L. 112-10]
FY 2012 Funding Status: Pending
FY 2012 President’s Budget Proposal: $0/Consolidation [OMB Release- February 14, 2011]
For FY 2012, in a continuation of last year's proposal, the Obama Administration has proposed to eliminate Teaching American History as an individually funded program, and instead consolidate it into a new authority called “Effective Teaching and Learning for a Well-Rounded Education”, along with seven other programs emphasizing higher education partnerships and content-based activities. The President’s Budget does not provide a FY 2012 allocation for Teaching American History or the consolidated programs. The new “Well-Rounded Education” authority would emphasize “accountability” and “flexibility” for state and local education agencies over current, field-specific opportunities
Latest House Action: $0/Eliminated [Subcommittee Draft- September 29, 2011]
On September 29, 2011, the House Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Subcommittee released a Majority-only version of a draft FY 2012 funding bill that was not considered by the full subcommittee. Teaching American History grants are eliminated under the draft House bill.
Latest Senate Action: $46 million [Full Committee Vote- September 21, 2011]
On September 20, 2011, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the FY 2012 Labor, Health and Human Services Funding Bill (S. 1599). The measure provides $46 million for Teaching American History grants, the FY 2011 enacted level.
Committee Jurisdiction
Appropriations:
Authorization:
Authorization [Last authorization: January 8, 2002]
The Teaching American History program is a discretionary grant program funded under Title II-C, Subpart 4 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The bill was last reauthorized in 2002, under the "No Child Left Behind Act" (H.R. 1). The House and Senate are currently working on ESEA reauthorization bills.
In 2010, the Obama Administration released its "Blueprint for Reform" to Reauthorize ESEA. The proposal would consolidate Teaching American History grants and several other K-12 programs into a single line-item without subject-specific requirements. Under the "Blueprint" - as currently framed - the Teaching American History program would essentially be eliminated as a dedicated, content-specific funding stream to improve history education.
On October 20, 2011, the Senate HELP Committee approved an ESEA reauthorization bill with important provisions related to "Well-Rounded Education" (for more details, see the recent NCH Update on this issue).
[Current Statute: H.R. 1/P.L. 107-110, "No Child Left Behind Act of 2002"]
Additional Resources
