Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Tuesday, September 23, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced that Missouri schools will receive more than $2.6 million in federal funds to teach American history.

"Today's announcement is good news for Missouri's children," said Bond. "We have a responsibility to teach our children the importance of our country's history and our strong democratic roots. Funding programs like Teaching American History are a good start at meeting that commitment."

The Department of Education (DOE) will send $2,687,635 in federal funds as part of the Teaching American History grants program:

* $1,000,000 to the Cooperating School Districts (a non-profit, educational consortium providing cooperative purchasing, technology, staff development, legislative, human resource, research and financial services to public school districts throughout Missouri);

* $999,998 to Seneca R-VII School District in Seneca;

* $687,637 to the St. Louis Public Schools.

The Teaching American History grant program supports three-year projects to improve teachers' knowledge, understanding and appreciation for American history through intensive, ongoing professional development. Projects must be in partnership with organizations that have extensive knowledge of American history, including libraries, museums, nonprofit history or humanities organizations, and higher education institutions.

More information about Teaching American History grants is available at http://www.ed.gov/programs/teachinghistory/index.html.

Kit Bond is Missouri’s senior Senator and is now in his third term after having served the state previously during two terms as Governor.