DMC Partners In Federal Grant to Strengthen Civic Learning Nationwide
The David Mathews Center is a supporting partner with a recently announced competitive federal grant to advance civic education through a deliberative approach to teaching historic decisions connected to America’s founding and future.
The project brings together a national consortium led by the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement at James Madison University (JMU) and the JMU Center for Advancement and Research in Education, as well as James Madison’s Montpelier and the National Issues Forums, Institute (NIFI).
Over the three-year grant period, the project is expected to reach approximately 2,000 educators and 50,000 K–12 students nationwide through updated instructional materials, professional learning experiences, and sustained classroom implementation support.
Much of this work will be accomplished using redesigned versions of NIFI’s nationally recognized Historic Decisions Issue Guides on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. As part of the grant, NIFI is developing a “What’s Next, America?” issue guide for classroom use, and creating facilitator kits tailored to different grades. The DMC will help develop and test this new guide.
“We are deeply grateful for the partnership of the David Mathews Center for Civic Life,” said Cristin Brawner, executive director of NIFI. “For decades, the DMC has been a trusted leader in providing high-quality civic education materials and professional development for teachers. Their involvement strengthens this work at every level and ensures that deliberative civic learning is grounded in local relationships, educator expertise, and a long-term commitment to preparing young people for informed and engaged citizenship.”
The partnership will also deliver place-based and virtual professional development seminars, individualized coaching, professional-learning communities for educators, and expanded student opportunities tied to America 250 programming.
“We could not be more honored and excited to join with these dynamic, national partners in this important work,” DMC executive director Scotty E. Kirkland said. “When Alabama marked 200 years of statehood in 2019, the DMC led a series of thoughtful, important conversations about our state’s past and its future. Now, as our nation prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of its founding, I have no doubt that the DMC will again rise to the occasion, leading similar conversations in classrooms and communities throughout Alabama.”