Rockwood School District R-6 in Eureka, Mo., has been awarded a three-year $971,952 Teaching American History grant designed to raise student achievement by providing teachers with in-depth, professional development in American history, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced today. This year, the Teaching American History program will award 121 new grants worth $114.7 million to schools districts in 40 states nationwide.

        "The Teaching American History grant program offers educators opportunities to work with colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, libraries, or museums to learn more about our country's history, culture, and democratic tradition," said Secretary Spellings. "By providing professional development for teachers, we can help them support young people in becoming active, informed citizens."

        Rockwood School District R-6, History Matters! partnered with local universities and historical organizations will teach grades K-4 historical knowledge through American history by both hands on learning in the classroom and taking field trips. They hope to improve the teacher knowledge of the subject content and explore new ways of learning.

        The Teaching American History grant program is designed to improve student achievement by enhancing teachers' knowledge of traditional American history through intensive ongoing professional development in both content and research-based teaching strategies. Grants fund projects for up to five years, and grantees must partner with one or more organizations that have extensive knowledge of American history, including libraries, museums, nonprofit history or humanities organizations and higher education institutions.

        History is one of the core academic subjects under the No Child Left Behind Act. The most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly known as the "Nation's Report Card," shows some overall improvement in history performance at all three grade levels, however, less than one-quarter of America's students in grades 4, 8, and 12 are performing at the highest, or proficient level, in American history.

        About Rockwood

        The Rockwood School District is St. Louis County's largest public school system, serving more than 22,000 students. Covering 150 square miles in parts of western St. Louis and northern Jefferson counties, Rockwood serves an estimated 150,000 residents in 50,000 households. Eleven distinct communities are within Rockwood's boundaries, including all or parts of Ballwin, Chesterfield, Clarkson Valley, Ellisville, Eureka, Fenton, Manchester and Wildwood.