“Freedom for the Next 250” project awarded $1.3 million from Department of Education

ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University, in collaboration with the Ashbrook Center, has been awarded more than $1.3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education for its “Freedom for the Next 250: Strengthening American History and Civics Education” project, which will revitalize and support K-12 education as the country prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary throughout 2026.

“We are thrilled that the Department of Education has awarded this generous grant. This grant cycle was extremely competitive, thus it demonstrates great faith in the potential impact for this project,” stated Dr. Jon Parrish Peede, president of AU. “Data shows there has been a steady decline in civics education in our country, but the approach of reading primary documents and digging deep into American history and government has produced great results for teachers and students.”

Funding will go toward one-day and multi-day seminars that will be conducted by faculty experts from AU and other universities across the country. The one-day seminars will be held in partnership with local school districts, while the multi-day seminars will take place at historic sites such as Independence Hall and Valley Forge.

The grant, which runs through Sept. 30, 2028, is expected to reach 1,200 K-12 teachers directly and more than 6,000 through peer sharing. Teachers will engage with primary source material, examining the words and the Founding Fathers’ intentions by gaining access to Ashbrook’s classroom resources and TeachingAmericanHistory.org.

Through these seminars and education resources, teachers will gain new knowledge of the American Founding and its legacy in American history, and in turn, increase their enthusiasm for the subject area and apply lessons and readings from primary documents in their classrooms. Ultimately, it will benefit today’s and tomorrow’s students.

Jeff Sikkenga, Ph.D., executive director of the Ashbrook Center, is confident this program will make a significant difference and improve civics education across the country.

“If we are going to continue as a flourishing republic for another 250 years, it is crucial to equip teachers with the knowledge and confidence they need to help the next generation to understand the history and principles of America,” said Sikkenga. “Civic education is not just another subject in school. It is the foundation of a free society.”

The Ashbrook Center, established in 1983, is an independent academic center located at Ashland University. Its mission is to strengthen constitutional self-government by educating students, teachers and citizens in the history and founding principles of the United States.