If you teach in one of the locations in the first phase of this grant, click here to access more information about upcoming programs in:
November 3, 2025, College Park, Maryland–National History Day® (NHD) is proud to announce that it has been awarded an American History and Civics Seminars Program grant for almost $2 million from the U.S. Department of Education. This initiative will develop two avenues for teacher professional development over the next three academic years.
The first part of the grant will fund a teacher-focused professional development model in eight locations across the nation. These teacher training programs will focus on project-based learning, historical thinking skills, and engaging with local historic resources.
Professional development opportunities will be held in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Ohio, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. National History Day, in conjunction with its affiliate partners in each state, will co-lead these workshops to engage teachers and strengthen NHD programs in:
2025-2027:
Idaho Falls and surrounding communities (with the Idaho State Historical Society)
Southeastern Iowa (with the State Historical Society of Iowa)
Southside Virginia (with the Virginia Museum of History & Culture)
Central Wisconsin (with the Wisconsin Historical Society)
2026-2028:
Northeastern Colorado (with the University of Colorado, Denver)
Southeastern Ohio (with The Ohio History Connection)
Salt Lake, Weber, Davis, and Utah Counties, Utah (with the Utah Historical Society)
Northeast Kingdom of Vermont (with the Vermont Historical Society)
The second part of the program is a virtual learning series, Revolutionary Ideals: Understanding 250 Years of American Principles, led in partnership with the American Historical Association. The series will explore how the ideals of the American Revolution have developed and evolved across American history. Applications will launch in January 2026, with 240 spots available for teachers nationwide, and the program will begin in April 2026.
“National History Day is proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Education on this important initiative,” shares NHD Executive Director Dr. Cathy Gorn. “We are excited to collaborate with schools and teachers in these communities to engage more students in the process of historical research. Quality history education helps young people gain a deeper understanding of our shared history and encourages students to become involved and active citizens. By enabling students to develop historical knowledge, critical thinking, and digital literacy, NHD equips them with the tools to engage in their communities.”
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About National History Day® (NHD)
NHD is a non-profit organization based in College Park, Maryland, that seeks to improve the teaching and learning of history. Established in 1974, NHD currently engages more than half a million students each year in conducting original research on historical topics of interest and supports teachers through professional development opportunities. Students present their research as a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website. Projects compete first at the local and affiliate levels, where the top entries are invited to the annual National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. NHD is sponsored in part by the Joyful Noise Charitable Foundation, The Better Angels Society, Bezos Family Foundation, Library of Congress, Dr. Scholl Foundation, Behring Global Educational Foundation, 400 Years of African American History Commission, and the National Park Service. For more information, visit nhd.org.
About the American Historical Association
The American Historical Association (AHA) was founded in 1884 and incorporated by Congress in 1889. The AHA promotes historical work and the importance of historical thinking in public life. Its mission to enhance the work of historians also encompasses professional standards and ethics, innovative scholarship and teaching, academic freedom, and international collaboration. As the largest membership association of historians in the world, the AHA serves historians in a wide variety of professions, and represents every historical era and geographical area.
About the University of Colorado, Denver and National History Day in Colorado
Hosted by the University of Colorado Denver’s Department of History since 2006, the National History Day in Colorado (NHDC) program fulfills the Colorado Department of Education standards in literacy and social studies, helping students meet graduation capstone requirements while also offering high school students the opportunity to earn college credit through CU Succeed, CU Denver’s statewide dual enrollment program. NHDC provides a range of educational opportunities—including research rendezvous events, regional and state contests, an elementary poster contest, educator Institutes, and six published curricula for middle and high school educators—all while connecting students to the state’s premier public urban research university. At CU Denver, where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city, more than 100 top-ranked degree programs and seven schools and colleges empower diverse learners to solve complex challenges and make a real-world impact. Part of the state’s largest university system, CU Denver employs 2,000 people and generates an annual economic impact of $800 million. To learn more about CU Denver and how learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu. To learn more about National History Day in Colorado, visit clas.ucdenver.edu/nhdc.
About the Idaho State Historical Society
The Idaho State Historical Society is a trusted guide through the state’s history and how it has shaped every aspect of our lives, our land, our communities, our government and our people. Created in 1881 and established as a state agency in 1907, the Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS) is an extraordinary system of cultural and historic resources comprised of the Idaho State Museum, Idaho State Archives, Idaho State Historic Preservation Office, Old Idaho Penitentiary and Historic Sites Program. The Idaho State Historical Society has been the state affiliate for National History Day since 1983. For more information, go to history.idaho.gov.
About the Ohio History Connection
The Ohio History Connection, formerly the Ohio Historical Society, is a statewide history organization with the mission to spark discovery of Ohio’s stories. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered in 1885, the Ohio History Connection carries out history services for Ohio and its citizens focused on preserving and sharing the state’s history. This includes housing the State Historic Preservation Office, the official state archives and the Community Engagement Department and managing more than 50 sites and museums across Ohio. The Ohio History Connection has been the state affiliate for National History Day since 1995. For more information, go to ohiohistory.org.
About the State Historical Society of Iowa™
Founded by the Iowa Legislature in 1857, the State Historical Society of Iowa is the only cultural institution in Iowa charged with collecting, caring for, exhibiting, and interpreting the history of the state as a whole. The State Historical Society of Iowa has a dual mission of preservation and education. The society preserves and provides access to Iowa’s historical resources through a variety of statewide programs, exhibitions and projects while serving as an advocate for Iowa’s past and connector to the future. The State Historical Society includes the State Historical Museum of Iowa, Library & Archives Research Centers, and seven State Historic Sites spread across the state. The society serves as the primary repository for documents, objects, books, manuscript material, and photographs related to the history of the state, and its collections document the unique transition of Iowa from territory to state and the rich culture that has developed over more than 170 years.
About the Utah Historical Society
Founded in 1897, the Utah Historical Society is a division of the Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement, dedicated to sharing the history of the state through scholarship, research, library & collections, and public engagement. The Utah Historical Society works to foster curiosity about the past, inform the present, and strengthen our shared future.
As home of the state’s official National History Day® affiliate, the Utah Historical Society supports NHD programming throughout the state. NHD Utah has operated continuously since 1980. The program was originally developed and housed at Utah State University. In 2014 it was transferred to the Utah Historical Society. NHD Utah receives financial and in-kind support from Utah State University, Weber State University, Salt Lake Community College, BYU, Utah Valley University, Utah Humanities, the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the Marriner S. Eccles Foundation, Rocky Mountain Power Foundation, and the LDS Church Foundation.
About the Virginia Museum of History & Culture
Founded in 1831 as the Virginia Historical Society, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, a private, non-profit organization, is the oldest museum and cultural organization in Virginia and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the United States. The museum cares for a renowned collection of more than nine million items representing the far-reaching story of Virginia. For more information, please visit virginiahistory.org.
About the Vermont Historical Society
Established in 1838, the Vermont Historical Society aims to engage Vermonters and Vermonters-at-Heart with outstanding collections, state-wide outreach, and dynamic programming. As a private nonprofit, the Vermont Historical Society builds understanding of Vermont’s past through the Vermont History Museum, annual publications and educational programming, and research support from our collections and library at the Vermont History Center. The Vermont Historical Society has been the state affiliate for National History Day since 1983. To learn more, please visit vermonthistory.org.
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active, and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.
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