The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is elevating “patriotic education” as a funding priority and launching a new coalition to shape civics programming around the nation’s 250th anniversary. [The Washington Post, subscription model]  

Driving the news: ED announced more than $160 million in new funding for American history and civics grants, while setting patriotic education as a key grantmaking priority.

  • It also introduced the America 250 Civics Education Coalition, led by the America First Policy Institute and including over 40 groups such as Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, the Heritage Foundation, Moms for Liberty, and PragerU.
  • Planned programming includes a 50-state speaker series, school visits, student competitions, and teacher summits. 

Why it matters: Civics education, historically seen as bipartisan, has become a flashpoint over how U.S. history should be taught. Supporters of the initiative emphasize instilling civic pride and knowledge of the founding documents. Critics caution it could narrow perspectives by focusing on selective narratives of U.S. history. [Education Week, subscription model] 

What They’re Saying
  • In a press release, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said, “we are proud to announce this coalition to ensure every young American understands the beauty of our nation and is equipped with the civic knowledge required to contribute meaningfully to its future.”
  • Louise Dubé, CEO of civics nonprofit iCivics, told Education Week: “We understand that this is an open coalition, and we believe it would be useful to our country to integrate more balance of perspectives so that we can as a nation exercise reflective patriotism at this critical time.”
  • In an interview with The Washington Post, the American Enterprise Institute’s (AEI) Rick Hess said “If a Democratic administration had done this, with an unapologetically progressive organization leading an unapologetically progressive coalition in concert with the Department, Republicans would be livid.”

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