ED and DOL Launch FY 2026 Civics Education Grant Competition

As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Labor (DOL) have announced a significant grant competition under the American History and Civics – National Activities Program for Fiscal Year 2026. This program is designed to enhance civics education throughout American classrooms by providing essential funding and professional development opportunities to colleges, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations that aim to promote a comprehensive understanding of American history, civics, government, and geography. The initiative is particularly timely as it seeks to revive and strengthen education in these critical areas ahead of this monumental milestone.

This grant competition builds upon the Trump Administration's previous investment of $153 million in the American History and Civics Seminar program, reflecting a broader commitment to fostering an accurate portrayal of American history and principles. As stated by Assistant Secretary of Education, Kirsten Baesler, “In the lead-up to America’s 250th birthday, these grants will help revitalize history and civics education in classrooms across the nation.” This statement underscores the administration's goal of ensuring future generations appreciate and respect the foundational ideals of the United States.

The partnership between the ED and DOL is historic, leveraging an Interagency Agreement (IA) to streamline grant management. This collaborative approach aims to reduce bureaucratic obstacles and facilitate effective administration of the program. Dr. Henry Mack, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training, emphasized the necessity of integrating foundational beliefs such as indivisible rights into education: “While the belief that individuals have certain immutable rights ordered toward an objective good is one that extends far beyond the classroom, it is a belief that must take root in classrooms and workplaces for it to survive for another 250 years.”

Importantly, these grants are not merely financial support; they are intended as robust tools for professional development, providing educators with high-quality instructional strategies and evidence-based practices in teaching civics, history, and geography. This strategic educational investment seeks to combat previous pedagogical shifts towards ideological frameworks favoring race- and gender-based teachings, aiming now for a return to a curriculum that emphasizes patriotic education.

As procurement professionals monitor this new grant opportunity, it highlights the federal government's updated focus on civics education and suggests potential future funding pathways as organizations align with program objectives. Interested organizations are encouraged to prepare for applications that meet specified requirements surrounding professional development and curriculum enhancement focused on civics.

The timing of this initiative—the approaches taken by ED and DOL—signals a renewed federal emphasis on civics education that likely indicates ongoing and future investments in this area. Given this context, procurement professionals and stakeholders within the educational domain should remain vigilant for upcoming opportunities and be ready to engage with the forthcoming guidelines and application processes.

• This grant competition provides an important funding opportunity for educational organizations focused on civics education.
• The collaborative approach between ED and DOL may impact grant application processes.
• Organizations are encouraged to tailor their proposals around the themes of patriotic education and professional development.
• This initiative reinforces federal commitment to reviving civics instruction, which could lead to sustained funding in the future.
• The program emphasizes evidence-based instructional strategies for history and civics, enhancing educator effectiveness.
• Applications for these grants are open to a wide range of participants including colleges, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations.
• The focus on educational content aims to counteract previous trends towards more ideologically-driven curricula.
• Applications should align with the overarching goal of promoting understanding of American foundational principles.
• The IAAs foster better coordination and resource allocation between federal agencies and streamline the funding process.
• Organizations interested in these grants should prepare to demonstrate their capacity to meet program objectives and deliver robust civics education.