The School District of Manatee County’s Foundations of Freedom Liberty Fellowship project seeks to improve student achievement in American History, as well as reading and writing, by strengthening the knowledge base of teachers in grades 3 through 5. Objectives of the Foundations of Freedom Liberty Fellowship include: creating a consortium of enthusiastic teachers with a rich knowledge in traditional American History, utilizing this knowledge, joined with top level instruction and pedagogy, to measurably improve our students’ understanding and appreciation of American History and, sustaining the application of this content to other district teachers to create a more on-going and significant understanding of traditional American History.

A cadre of 40 teachers of grades 3 through 5 will join the project partners, including: the University of South Florida History Department, the University Of South Florida Sarasota Campus College Of Education, the American Institute of History Education, the Looking for Angola Project and others. Project focus encompasses essential events, themes, documents and individuals that comprise American History and the unique character of the unique American Historical perspective. The teacher cohorts will also learn to leverage this content to improve student achievement in non-fiction reading and writing. The learning is organized chronology over five years, beginning with the colonial era moving through the Jacksonioan era, the Civil War, the American west, through the modern era to events of today. Through lectures, colloquia and workshops with noted historians the knowledge base of faculty will be broadened. Cohort members will also participate in immersive experiences at historical sites.

Cohort members will become mentors to faculty in their buildings, expanding the impact of their training. In addition, the Foundations of Freedom Liberty Fellowship project will provide resources to all Manatee County teachers.

A copy of the grant will be in room 503 for your review.

The Superintendent recommends approval  to apply, accept, and expend the U.S. Department of Education Teaching American History Grant.

Motion and approval to apply, accept, and expend the U.S. Department of Education Teaching American History Grant.

If the request for proposal application is approved, the District will receive approximately $1,661,725.00, for the period beginning August 1, 2009 and ending June 20, 2014.

Federal Progams and Grants

RKH/dcs

03/23/09